THE LOLA T87/50
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
The T87/50 at the Lola factory.
Lola's first two designs for the new F3000 Championship, 1985's T950 and 1986's T86/50 had not set the world alight with one win and three other podium finishes in two seasons which meant that if Lola wanted to sell their F3000 cars they needed to turn things around in 1987.
The full technical details of the T87/50 can be found in the Lola Press Release below.
Comparing pictures of the T86/50 with the T87/50 indications are that a new chassis was employed with changed nose and upper body profiles and the radiator ducting in the sidepods now exiting to the side. The other major change was to the rear suspension where the upper rocker arms of the T86/50 had been replaced with wishbones.
Results for the new design were greatly improved with four wins and the Championship in the All Japan series and four wins and the runner-up spot in the FIA Formula 3000 International Championship.
In Japan the fight was between the T87/50 and the March 87B with the field split approximately 50:50, the Lola dominated qualifying taking eight pole position in nine races and going on to win four times. The Championship went to Kazuyoshi Hoshino with Geoff Lees third and Keiji Matsumoto fourth.
The FIA Formula 3000 International Championship saw the Ralt RT21 added to the Lola/March mix with the March 87B taking five wins, the T87/50 four and the Ralt RT21 two. In the final standings Luis Perez Sala finished second with future Lola F1 driver Yannick Dalmas fifth and Michel Trollé sixth.
Year(s) of Construction: 1987
Total Built: 16
T87/50 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS
YEAR |
CHAMPIONSHIP |
WINNER(S) |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Japanese F3000 Championship | Kazuyoshi Hoshino | Lola T87/50-Honda |
T87/50 SIGNIFICANT RACE WINS
1987
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th April | Fuji | Geoff Lees | First Lola Japanese F3000 win – Round 2 of the All Japan F3000 Championship |
| 16th May | Spa-Francorchamps | Michel Trollé | Round 3 of the FIA Formula 3000 International Championship |
| 24th May | Suzuka | Kazuyoshi Hoshino | Round 4 of the Japanese F3000 Championship |
| 28th June | Donington Park | Luis Perez Sala | Round 5 of the FIA Formula 3000 International Championship |
| 5th July | Suzuka | Kazuyoshi Hoshino | Round 5 of the Japanese F3000 Championship |
| 26th July | Sugo | Kazuyoshi Hoshino | Round 6 of the Japanese F3000 Championship |
| 23rd August | Brands Hatch | Julian Bailey | Round 7 of the FIA Formula 3000 International Championship |
| 27th September | Le Mans Bugatti Circuit | Luis Perez Sala | Round 10 of the FIA Formula 3000 International Championship |
1988
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th March | Silverstone | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
| 17th April | Mallory Park | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
| 8th May | Mondello | Geoff Farmer | Dunlop Trophy Formule Libre Race |
| 21st May | Oulton Park | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
| 3rd July | Snetterton | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
| 14th August | Donington Park | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
| 11th September | Brands Hatch | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
1989
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th April | Snetterton | Geoff Farmer | Formule Libre Race |
Geoff Lees racing the T87/50 in Japan.
Oulton Park 21st May 1988: Geoff Farmers ex-Foitek T87/50 won the F. Libre Race and set a new outright lap record at 113.53 mph. (Picture courtesy of Ben Cowdrey)
