Minister for the East of England Barbara Follett visited Lola Group’s Huntingdon base to open a new factory floor on Thursday (Sept 24). She talked with managing director Andrew Manahan about the innovative work being undertaken there. Well-known for making race cars, Lola has also created unmanned aerial and underwater vehicles for companies such as BAE Systems and Thales and is developing sustainable energy projects scuh as a new style of wind turbine and harnessing tidal power.

She also praised the work of Sharon Hewison, manager of Lola’s composite engineering group, saying: “I’m so pleased to see women in roles like yours - not enough girls go into engineering.”

Mrs Follett said: “I am a real Star Trek fan so this is the sort of place I love to come to – it is all about the future. They have a very skilled workforce and are engaged in cutting-edge technologies. I am so proud of this facility. What they make here is very impressive – and very useful to the rest of the world.”

She praised the company’s 50th anniversary event last year – where Lola cars of all ages were paraded through the streets of Huntingdon – and suggested a similar event could be held periodically, which could also boost tourism to the town.

Mr Manahan said that building race cars is only a part of what the company now does. “We have diversified greatly in the past two years and now have a wide base.” The group comprises Lola Composites and Lola Special Projects as well as Lola Cars.

Mrs Follett is not the only Government Minister backing Lola’s work. Paul Drayson, Minister of Science in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, owns a Lola LMP1 Coupe, which he raced at Petit Le Mans at the weekend with his own team, Drayson Racing.

All pictures Lola Heritage.