THE LOLA T385
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
The Nimrod Racing announcement.
The T385 was commissioned by Robin Hamilton and Lola built two cars that were to be powered by a 5340cc Aston Martin engine tuned by Tickford and called the "Development Prototype 1229" (DP 1229). The cars were known as Nimrod Aston Martins with the two chassis being NRA/C2 002 and NRA/C2 003, the NRA standing for Nimrod Racing Automobiles. Chassis 01 was an earlier prototype the Nimrod team built and had nothing to do with Lola. The T385 was a conventional design and interestingly it used the windscreen from the T70, the front suspension was a rocker-operated inboard design and the front radiator duct echoed the radiator design on the Aston Martin road cars.
In addition to the two Lola-built cars there were two more that were constructed by the Nimrod team and featured some modifications, largely aerodynamic, inspired by Ray Mallock. Results were adequate without setting the world alight but for 1983 Hamilton took the two Lola-built cars to the US to compete in IMSA GTP racing while Viscount Downe continued in Europe with the two non-Lola models. Results in America were disappointing and at the end of the season the team folded and HU01 was sold to privateer Jim Miller. The Nimrod team returned to Europe but financial difficulties saw them have to shut-up shop.
Year(s) of Construction: 1979-1980
Total Built: 2
Chassis: Aluminium and Dural monocoque with a Fibre glass body.
Suspension (front): Independent, Unequal wishbones with adjustable Koni dampers.
Suspension (rear): Independent, Double wishbone suspension.
Length: 188 in (4,780 mm)
Width: 75 in (1,900 mm)
Height: 39 in (990 mm)
Wheelbase: 108 in (2,740 mm)
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) at the 1982 Silverstone 6 Hours.
T385 (Lola built) RACE RESULTS 1982
DATE |
RACE |
DRIVER(S) |
CHASSIS |
QUALIFYING |
RACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16th May | Pace Silverstone 6 Hours | Geoff Lees Bob Evans Tiff Needell |
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
14th | DNF |
| 20th June | 24 Heures du Mans, Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans | Geoff Lees Tiff Needell |
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
26th | DNF |
| 5th September | 1000 km. Spa Trophee Diners Club, Spa-Francorchamps | Geoff Lees Tiff Needell |
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
16th | DNF |
T385 (Lola built) RACE RESULTS 1983
DATE |
RACE |
DRIVER(S) |
CHASSIS |
QUALIFYING |
RACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th February | Pepsi Challenge Daytona 24 Hours | A.J. Foyt Darrell Waltrip Guillermo Maldonado |
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
13th | DNF |
| 6th February | Pepsi Challenge Daytona 24 Hours | Lyn St James John Graham Drake Olson |
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
12th | DNF |
| 19th March | Coco-Cola Classic 12 Hours of Sebring | Victor Gonzalez Drake Olson |
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
13th | DNF |
| 19th March | Coco-Cola Classic 12 Hours of Sebring | Reggie Smith Lyn St James Drake Olson |
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
48th | 5th |
| 24th April | Los Angeles Times/Datsun Grand Prix of Endurance Riverside 6 Hours | Drake Olson | HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
12th | DNF |
| 9th June | Lumberman's Mid-Ohio 6 Hours | Jack Miller Mike Brummer Carlos Ramirez |
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
17th | DNF |
| 9th June | Lumberman's Mid-Ohio 6 Hours | Drake Olson Robert Overby |
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) |
10th | DNF |
| 27th November | Daytona Finale 3 Hours | Jack Miller Carlos Ramirez |
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
24th | 8th |
T385 (Lola built) RACE RESULTS 1984
DATE |
RACE |
DRIVER(S) |
CHASSIS |
QUALIFYING |
RACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5th February | 22nd Annual SunBank Daytona 24 Hours | Jack Miller Carlos Ramirez Vicki Smith |
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
23rd | DNF |
| 20th May | Charlotte Camel GT 500 Kms | - | HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
- | DNS |
| 27th May | Lime Rock Coco-Cola 500 | Jack Miller | HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
12th | 10th |
| 6th October | Columbus Ford Dealers 500 Kms | Jack Miller | HU01 (NRA/C2 002) |
30th | 15th |
HU01 (NRA/C2 002) posing at Daytona in 1983.
Out on the Daytona track.
1983 Daytona 24 Hours, HU01 (NRA/C2 002) was driven by A.J. Foyt, Darrell Waltrip and Guillermo Maldonado.
James Hunt and Stirling Moss at Goodwood.....
....for the launch of the Nimrod/T385.
The T385 was a very handsome car, note the change in the rear wing design from the car's launch.
April 1984 at the Road Atlanta 500kms, it was driven by Jack Miller and Carlos Ramirez.
HU02 (NRA/C2 003) at the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours, driven by Geoff Lees, Tiff Needell and Bob Evans it retired following an accident when the suspension failed with Needell at the wheel.
On display at Goodwwod.
The car looks especially neat from the rear.
Less nosecone the heavy duty front rockers are evident.
