THE LOLA T240
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
The Formula Two version of the T240 outside...
In 1971 there were two Formulae that employed 4-cylinder 1600cc Ford engines, albeit not to the same regulations, Formula Two and Formula B or Formula Atlantic as it was known in the UK. This allowed manufacturers to build a single car that, with very minor modifications, could run in both series.
Lola's chassis for the two Formulae was the T240 which, as can be seen from the specification sheet below, was a straightforward, conventional design suitable for privateers. One chassis was built to Formula 2 spec and it raced in five European Championship rounds entered by Jo Bonnier and driven by both Dr. Helmut Marko and Jo himself and in one race entered by Lola and driven by Frank Gardner. It showed reasonable form but was never a winner. However, the Formula B version proved a much more serious proposition, while it wasn't quite up to winning any US races it did take eleven top ten finishes which included three in the top four.
Year(s) of Construction: 1971
Total Built: 14
...the Slough factory.
T240 FORMULA 2 RACE RESULTS
1971
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th April | III Jim Clark Gedächtnisrennen, Hockenheim | Ecurie Bonnier SA | Dr. Helmut Marko | DNF |
| 2nd May | XXXIV ADAC-Eifelrennen, Nürburgring | Ecurie Bonnier SA | Dr. Helmut Marko | 8th |
| 16st May | VI Gran Premio de Madrid, Jarama | Ecurie Bonnier SA | Dr. Helmut Marko | DNF |
| 25th July | X Gran Premio Città di Imola, Imola | Ecurie Bonnier SA | Dr. Helmut Marko | DNF |
| 3rd October | IV Preis von Baden-Württemberg und Hessen, Hockenheim | Lola Cars Ltd. | Frank Gardner | DNF |
| 17th October | II Gran Premio Madunina, Vallelunga | Ecurie Bonnier SA/Lola Cars Ltd | Jo Bonnier | 12th |
Specification sheet for the Formula B model (Page 1).
Specification sheet for the Formula B model (Page 2).
T240 USA SCCA CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP FORMULA B RACE RESULTS
1971
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23rd May | Seattle | Charlie Hayes | Mike Hiss George "Skipp" Walther Syd Demovsky |
2nd 9th DNF |
| 20th June | Monterrey | Charlie Hayes | Mike Hiss Rocky Moran George "Skipp" Walther Chuck Sarich Syd Demovsky Jim Sarich |
5nd 8th 11th 14th DNF DNS |
| 27th June | Mexico City | Syd Demovsky Rocky Moran George "Skipp" Walther Mike Hiss | 9th 14th 18th DNF |
|
| 1st August | Edmonton | Quicksilver Racing Ent. Inc. Syd Demovsky Racing |
Chuck Sarich Jim Sarich Syd Demovsky |
3rd 4th 12th |
| 15th August | Brainerd | Jim Sarich Rocky Moran George "Skipp" Walther Chuck Wannemacher Syd Demovsky Howard Jackson |
7th 8th 9th DNF DNF DNF |
|
| 29th August | Road America | Quicksilver Racing Ent., Inc., Rockville, Md | Jim Sarich Syd Demovsky George "Skipp" Walther Chuck Sarich |
6th 20th 26th 28th |
T240 USA SCCA CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP FORMULA B RACE RESULTS
1972
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27th February | Bogotá | Syd Demovsky Jim Harrell |
11th 16th |
|
| 5th March | Bogotá | Syd Demovsky Jim Harrell |
13th DNF |
|
| 7th May | Laguna Seca | Demovsky Racing Brooks Frybarger |
Syd Demovsky Brooks Frybarger Bill Middleton |
9th 12th DNS |
| 29th May | Bryar Motorsports Park | Bill Middleton | DNF | |
| 4th July | Lime Rock | Demovsky Racing |
Bill Middleton Syd Demovsky |
11th DNF |
| 8th July | Road Atlanta | Demovsky Racing | Syd Demovsky Joe Shepherd Bill Middleton |
DNF DNF DNF |
| 13th August | Watkins Glen | Demovsky Racing Chuck Wannemacher Century Racing Partners |
Syd Demovsky Chuck Wannemacher Vincent Dileo |
9th DNS DNS |
| 26th August | Road America | Joe Shepherd Demovsky Racing Cyclone Racing |
Joe Shepherd Syd Demovsky Howard Jackson |
18th DNS DNS |
| 16th September | Brainerd | Demovsky Racing | Syd Demovsky | 6th |
| 24th September | Riverside | Demovsky Racing Autohaus |
Syd Demovsky Ted Titmas Charlie Powell |
8th 10th DNF |
T240 USA SCCA CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP FORMULA B RACE RESULTS
1973
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th October | Watkins Glen | Edward Raffey LS Racing |
Ed Kasprowicz Carmon Solomone |
17th DNF |
Artist's impression of the T240.
T240 PLAYERS CANADIAN FORMULA B RACE RESULTS
1971
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20th June | Edmonton | Max Mizejewski | DNF | |
| 11th July | Mont-Tremblant | Max Mizejewski | DNF | |
| 1st August | Mont-Tremblant | Vincent Dileo | DNS | |
| 19th September | Mosport Park | Vincent Dileo | DNF |
T240 PLAYERS CANADIAN FORMULA B RACE RESULTS
1972
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4th June | Sanair | Bill Middleton | DNF |
Suggested aerodynamic modifications to the T240 penned by designer Bob Marston.
Tim Barrington racing his F2 spec T240 in Historic Racing at Zandvoort. (Picture courtesy of Peter Collins)