The 2009 24 Heures Du Mans entry list features 8 Lola built chassis for the 77th edition of the great endurance race. With four Lola sports cars in each of the LMP1 and LMP2 classes, Lola are the most represented constructor in the field for the second year running.

There are four Lola-Aston Martin LMP1 cars racing against five Audi’s and four Peugeot diesel entries this weekend. Two of these will be from Aston Martin Racing and one each from Speedy Racing Team Sebah and AMR Eastern Europe. All these entries have chosen to race with the Huntingdon built LMP cars.

The Swiss entered Speedy Sebah Lola-Aston doubles up the team’s effort as they will also race in LMP2 with the Judd powered Lola B09/80 LMP2 Coupe that impressed so much in the 2008 event. Nicolas Prost, son of four times F1 World Champion, Alain will race in the LMP1 entry for Speedy Sebah.

RML return to Le Mans for their sixth 24 Hours with a Lola chassis. For 2009 the team will have an evolution of the Mazda MZR turbocharged engine at their disposal. Chris Dyson, himself well aware of the Lola chassis’ capability via his Dyson Racing squad in the American Le Mans Series joins team regulars Mike Newton and Tommy Erdos.

The Italian based Racing Box squad and the German Kruse-Schiller Motorsport teams complete the Lola entry. Racing Box is a new customer to Lola and got off to a brilliant start with class victory at Barcelona in April. Kruse-Schiller Motorsport returns for a second Le Mans 24 Hours assault with a Lola. The team retains some continuity on the driving front with Hideki Noda and Jean De Pourtales. Racing journalist Matthew Marsh joins them after showing impressive speed at both the Barcelona and Spa 1000kms races.

Executive Chairman of Lola Group, Martin Birrane, was delighted with the number of Lola’s in the field and said:

“Eight cars is a significant number for Lola in what for me is the greatest race in the world. We have some of the finest teams racing our cars and we will be supporting each of them to the best of our capabilities.

We aim to consolidate our excellent results in recent years at Le Mans and there is a real excitement and anticipation that the eight Lola built LMP cars can lead the challenge in both LMP1 and LMP2 classes in 2009.”

Since Martin Birrane’s acquisition of Lola in 1997, over 60 Le Mans sportscars have been designed and built at Lola’s headquarters, this more than any other constructor in the world.

From 2000 there has been five LMP2 class victories for Lola customer teams. At last years race the Charouz entered Lola-Aston Martin LMP1 Coupe was the fastest petrol engine car in both qualifying and the race itself.

Qualifying for the 77th running of the 24 Heures Du Mans begins at 19.00 CET on Thursday evening. The race itself starts at 15.00 CET on Saturday.

All pictures Lola Heritage.


The Lola Aston Martins of Aston Martin racing will be fighting for overall victory as well as LMP1 class honours.



Switzerland's Speedy Racing Team Sebah will be running in LMP1 and LMP2.



The Italian Racing Box team will be competing in LMP2 and have already won their class on their debut at the Barcelona 1000kms.