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THE LOLA Mk5 - 5A
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
Richard Attwood celebrating his Monaco F Junior race win in the MRP Mk5A
The Lola Mk5 was Lola's 1962 F Junior offering, following on from the rather disappointing Mk3 it took much of its design philosophy from the F1 Mk4. Things started promisingly for the Mk5 with a 1st and 3rd for Richard Prior and John Hine in the opening round of the B.A.R.C. Championship at Goodwood in their works Lola Equipe cars although in all honesty it was a weak field. Dennis Taylor took a second at the end of March at Snetterton in his self-entered car followed by a third at the same track in April at the Vanwall Trophy. Taylor continued to run well narrowly losing out to the works Lotus of Peter Arundell at Goodwood in the Chichester Cup at the end of April. John Hine was another runner-up at Snetterton in the Stanley Sears Cup in May whilst Hugh Dibley won at Goodwood in the Scuderia Light Blue Mk5 in another poor field in the same month and then repeated the feat at the same track at the end of June.
Ron Harris took over the running of the works cars and John Fenning celebrated by taking third in the first race for the new team at Oulton Park in August and followed this with a 4th at Goodwood the following week in a very high calibre field, both races were rounds of the B.A.R.C. Championship. The Ron Harris team were on the road to Snetterton the following day and Fenning took second in the Astley Trophy. The Ecurie Light Blue team took their car to Kirkistown for the Championship of Ireland at the end of August and Hugh Dibley repaid the trip across the Irish sea with second place. Peter Ashdown in the Superspeed Conversions Mk5 finished third in the London Trophy at Crystal Palace in September and it was a 1-2 for the Ron Harris Team at Snetterton in the Snetterton M.R.C. Championship but most of the opposition came from the Jim Russell Racing Driver School clients. The end of September saw a final win for Fenning in the Ron Harris car in the B.A.R.C. Members Meeting and he backed this up with third in the Molyslip Trophy at Snetterton and second in the Daily Herald Trophy at Silverstone.
Outside the UK David Hitches took second behind Jo Siffert in April at the IV Circuito Internazionale Riviera di Cesenático in Rimini. The race was round 3 of the Italian Championship and in the next round at the Circuito del Garda in Salò Hitches went one better taking the win from future Lola sportscar and F5000 driver Ulf Norinder. In June John Hine took third at the terrifying, slipstream battle that is the Grand Prix des Frontières at Chimay in Belgium. Picko Troberg was upholding Lola honour in Sweden with second spot at Falkenberg in August whilst in the same month Franco Dari finished fourth in the Gran Premio di Pergusa at the Enna Pergusa circuit in Sicily. It was another fourth place at Monza in September, this time for Raffaele Cammarota and in the same month David Hitches returned to the podium with second at Montlhéry in the Coupe de Paris and Picko Troberg picked up a third on Nürburgring's South Circuit. October saw Raffaele Cammarota fourth again at Monza in October's Coppa Junior and that was it for the year.
Over the year the Mk5 showed flashes of competitiveness but the season belonged to the Lotus 22 but allowing for the limited numbers of Mk5s racing, only 9 were built, results were good.
Year(s) of Construction: 1962
Total Built: 9
The MRP Mk5As lined up in the paddock. Note the works Lotus and Cooper transporters next to them. Is that Mike Spence and Colin Chapman visible over the shoulder of the woman in the headscarf?
The Lola Mk5A was an update of the previous season's F Junior Mk5, the highlight of the year was Dickie Attwood's victory in the prestigious Monaco GP support race.
The Mk5A chassis was constructed from a bronze-welded tubular steel spaceframe, the tubes being either round or square dependent on the stresses at their location. Additional stiffening was added via sheet steel panels around the cockpit area which were drilled for lightness. Suspension was via unequal length links front and rear transmitting forces to the braced instrument panel assembly and the roll hoop bulkhead. Conventional spring and damper units were employed with the front units being mounted inboard above the drivers feet in order to minimise drag and were operated by a pushrod. Anti-roll bars were fitted front and rear and all the suspension was fully adjustable. Steering was rack and pinion and braking came courtesy of 9.25 inch Girling discs.
The 100-105 bhp Ford engine, usually Cosworth or Holbay, was cooled by a combined oil and water crossflow radiator in the nose of the car with the chassis frame tubes acting as oil and water pipes. The oil tank was mounted just behind the radiator whilst the fuel tank was behind the driver's seat.
Transmission was via a diaphragm spring clutch and a 5-speed Hewland Mk4 VW-based gearbox with inter-changeable ratios. Hardy-Spicer drive shafts were fitted using Rotoflex inner couplings.
Wheels were 13 inch magnesium alloy fitted with Dunlop tyres, 4.50 inch at the front and 5.50 inch at the rear. The whole ensemble was clothed in an attractive 4-piece fibreglass body.
A happy Pico Troberg in his Mk5A,
In the UK the Mk5A proved to be a competitive proposition with several victories as well as numerous top three places throughout the 1963 season. The most notable Mk5A protagonists were Alan Rees in the Roy Winkelmann Racing car and MRP (Midland Racing Partnership) who ran a number of drivers including Richard Attwood, David Hobbs, Bill Bradley, David Baker and Jack Pearce. The main prize for Junior cars was the Express and Star Championship and David Baker and Alan Rees took 1st and 2nd at Snetterton in August and in the same month Rees finished first at Oulton Park. Dickie Attwood won an Irish Championship event at Kirkistown together with 2nds in Express and Star rounds at Mallory Park, Silverstone (in the British GP support programme) and Goodwood (at the Tourist Trophy support event). David Hobbs weighed in with 2nds at the Oulton Park Spring Cup in April and the International Trophy at Silverstone in May.
On the Continent Eric Offenstadt won at the East German tracks of Halle-Saale-Schleife in April and Schleizer Dreieck in July whilst Piko Troberg won at Karlskoga, Sweden at the end of May. Both drivers would also take several other podium places between them. In addition to his excellent win at Monaco Richard Attwood took 2nd at Rouen-les-Essarts and 3rd at Reims in June and the pseudonymous German "Franz Müller" (Roman Dirschl) had several top six finishes.
Year(s) of Construction: 1963
Total Built: 12
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 92 inches (233.7 cm)
Track: Front 51 inches (129.5 cms) Rear 51 inches (129.5 cms)
Length: 144 inches (365.75 cms)
Mk5 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS |
YEAR |
CHAMPIONSHIP |
WINNER(S) |
NOTES |
| 1965 |
Italian F3 Championship |
Andrea de Adamich |
Mk5A - Also drove a Brabham BT15 |
| 1990 |
HSCC Pre’65 Single Seater Championship |
Gary Pearson |
Class D - Mk5 |
| 1999 |
UK Formula Junior Championship |
Robin Longdon |
Rear-engined '61-'63 Class - Mk5 |
| 1979 |
UK Formula Junior Championship |
Robin Longdon |
Rear-engined '61-'63 Class - Mk5 |
Notable wins for the Mk5 and Mk5A
1962
|
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 24th March |
Goodwood - XLIX B.A.R.C. Members' Meeting |
Lola Mk5 |
Richard Prior |
Formula Junior - First win for the Mk5 - Entered by Lola Equipe |
| 1st May |
Circuito del Garda - XII Circuito del Garda |
Lola Mk5 |
David Hitches |
Formula Junior |
| 26th May |
Goodwood - L B.A.R.C. Members' Meeting |
Lola Mk5 |
Hugh Dibley |
Formula Junior - Entered by Scuderia Light Blue |
| 23rd June |
Goodwood - LI B.A.R.C. Members' Meeting |
Lola Mk5 |
Hugh Dibley |
Formula Junior - Entered by Scuderia Light Blue |
| 2nd September |
Snetterton - M.R.C. Championship |
Lola Mk5 |
John Fenning |
Formula Junior - Entered by Ron Harris |
| 15th September |
Madeira Drive, Brighton - Brighton & Hove MC |
Lola Mk5 |
Hugh Dibley |
Brighton Speed Trials - Winner of the 501-1,100cc Racing Class |
| 22nd September |
Goodwood - LIV B.A.R.C. Member's Meeting |
Lola Mk5 |
John Fenning |
Formula Junior - Entered by Ron Harris |
1963 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 21st April |
Halle-Saale-Schleife, Halle, East Germany - XV Halle-Saale-Schleiferennen
|
Lola Mk5A |
Eric Offenstadt |
Formula Junior - East German Championship Round 1 |
| 25th May |
Monaco
|
Lola Mk5A |
Dickie Attwood |
Victory in prestigious Formula Junior support race to GP |
| 26th May |
Karlskoga - Velodromloppet |
Lola Mk5A |
Picko Troberg |
Formula Junior - Round 2 of the Swedish Championship |
| 26th May |
Mosport Park |
Lola Mk5A |
John Cannon |
Formula Junior - Race 1 |
| 1st (9th?) June |
Mosport Park - Players '200' |
Lola Mk5A |
John Cannon |
Formula Junior |
| 13th July |
Harewood Acres, Jarvis, Ontario - Harewood Trophy Races |
Lola Mk5A |
John Cannon |
Formula Junior - Race 3 (Feature race) |
| 14th July |
Schleizer Dreieck, East Germany - XXX Int. Schleizer Dreieckrennen |
Lola Mk5A |
Eric Offenstadt |
Formula Junior - East German Championship Round 4 |
| 15th July |
Harewood Acres, Jarvis, Ontario - Harewood Trophy Races |
Lola Mk5A |
John Cannon |
Formula Junior - Race 1 |
| 25th August |
Snetterton - Snetterton M.R.C. Trophy |
Lola Mk5A |
David Baker |
B.A.R.C./Express & Star Formula Junior Championship - Round 16 - Entered by the Midland Racing Partnership |
| 31st August |
Oulton Park |
Lola Mk5A |
Alan Rees |
B.A.R.C./Express & Star Formula Junior Championship - Round 17 - Entered by Roy Winkelmann Racing |
| 31st August |
Kirkistown - Irish Championship |
Lola Mk5A |
Richard Attwood |
Formula Junior - Entered by the Midland Racing Partnership |
| ? October |
Eugene, Canada |
Lola Mk5A |
John Cannon |
Race 6 - Formula Junior and Sports - First Overall and Winner of the F. Junior Class |
| 26th December |
Mallory Park - Christmas Trophy |
Lola Mk5A |
Richard Attwood |
Formula Junior - Entered by the Midland Racing Partnership |
1964 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 24th May |
Montlhéry - Prix de Paris |
Lola Mk5A |
Eric Offenstadt |
Winner Heat 2 of Formula 3 race |
| 31st May |
Magny Cours - IV Grand Prix de Magny-Cours |
Lola Mk5A |
Eric Offenstadt |
Winner on aggregate of 2 Heats of Formula 3 race |
| 7th June |
La Châtre - VIII Circuit de la Châtre |
Lola Mk5A |
Eric Offenstadt |
Winner Heat 1 of Formula 3 race |
| 7th June |
La Châtre - VIII Circuit de la Châtre |
Lola Mk5A |
Eric Offenstadt |
Winner Final of Formula 3 race |
| 2nd August |
Falkenberg - XIII Västkustloppet |
Lola Mk5A (F2 spec) |
Gunnar Carlsson |
Combined Formula Junior/Formula 2/Formula 3 race - First overall |
| 6th September |
Skarpnäcks Flygplats - XIV Skarpnäcksloppet |
Lola Mk5 |
Freddy Kottulinsky |
Swedish Formula 3 Championship - Round 5 |
1967 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 21st May |
Brands Hatch - 750 MC |
Lola Mk5 |
Tony Sandars |
Monoposto Formula |
1968 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 11th May |
Castle Combe - Austin Healey Club |
Lola Mk5 |
Tony Sandars |
Round of the Monoposto Formula Championship |
| 14th July |
Silverstone - BMRMC |
Lola Mk5 |
Tony Sandars |
Kettering Tyre Services Trophy for Monoposto Cars |
1969 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 30th March |
Yeovilton - Yeovil CC |
Lola Mk5A |
Derrick Colvin |
Hillclimb - Class Winner |
| 7th September |
Yeovilton Sprint - Yeovil CC |
Lola Mk5A |
Derrick Colvin |
Class Winner |
2006 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 10th September |
Brands Hatch - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
HSCC Classic Race Car Championship for the Retro Track and Air Trophy - Winner Class B |
2007 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 9th-10th June |
Snetterton - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic F Junior - Race 1 - First overall and Winner Class C2 |
| 9th-10th June |
Snetterton - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic F Junior - Race 2 - First overall and Winner Class C2 |
| 15th September |
Brands Hatch - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner Class C2 |
| 20th October |
Silverstone - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
Classic Racing Cars Supported by Chartland Properties Ltd - Winner of Class B |
2008 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 10th-11th May |
Silverstone - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
Historic F Junior |
| 23rd-25th August |
Oulton Park - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
James Murray |
Classic Racing Cars Supported by Chartland Properties Ltd - Winner of Class A |
| 4th-5th October |
Donington - HSCC |
Lola Mk5A |
Philipp Buhofer |
Classic Racing Cars Supported by Chartland Properties Ltd - Winner of Class B |
2010 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 17th October |
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Portimao - Algarve Historic Festival 2010 |
Lola Mk5A |
Stephane Rey |
Formula Junior |
2011 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 1st May |
Donington Park |
Lola Mk5A |
James Murray |
FIA Lurani Trophy - Race 2 - Winner Class E |
| 3rd July |
Brands Hatch - Superprix |
Lola Mk5A |
James Murray |
FIA Lurani Trophy - Race 2 - First Overall and Winner Class E |
2012 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 21st April |
Cadwell Park |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
HSCC Classic Racing Cars - Race 1 - Winner Class E |
| 22nd April |
Cadwell Park |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
HSCC Classic Racing Cars - Race 2 - Winner Class E |
2013 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 20th April |
Cadwell Park |
Lola Mk5A |
James Murray |
HSCC/FJHRA Millers Oils Formula Junior - Race 1 - First overall and winner Class E1 |
| 20th April |
Cadwell Park |
Lola Mk5A |
James Murray |
HSCC/FJHRA Millers Oils Formula Junior - Race 2 - First overall and winner Class E1 |
2015 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 30th May |
Donington Park HSCC Race Meeting |
Lola Mk5A |
James Claridge |
HSCC Classic Racing Cars - Winner Class E |
| 9th August |
Croft HSCC Nostalgia Festival |
Lola Mk5A |
Robin Longdon |
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior Championship - Race 2 - First overall and Winner Class E1 |
2017 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
CAR |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 29th April |
Donington Historic Festival |
Lola Mk5A |
James Murray |
FJHRA/HSCC 'Silverline' Championship pre-64 Front & Rear-Engined Formula Juniors - First overall |
Mk5A Downloads
|
Mk5A spare parts price list, 5 pages. (491kb zip file) |
|
There is some discussion concerning the history and current whereabouts of the still existing Mk5s and Mk5As. Below are a selection of documents from Lola Heritages which may help (or hinder) the current debate.
The Lola Mk5-5A Chassis Log.
The author of this list is possibly former Lola Director Robbie Rushbrook and was probably written in the mid 1960s.
Note the interesting comment regarding MRP's rather cavalier treatment of the Lola chassis plates attached to their cars.
An enquiry from A Evangelisti in 1966 regarding a chassis he had just purchased.
A further letter from Mr Evangelisti, Lola's reply to the first letter seems to have been lost.
Page one of Lola's response to Mr Evangelisti's letter.
Page two of Lola's reply.
A Lola reply to a Mr Fyfe to his request for details on a T55, the original letter from Mr Fyfe is missing.
Mr Fyfe's reply to Lola giving further details about the construction of his car.
Lola's reply indicating Mr Fyfe's car is the chassis that formerly belonged to Mr Evangelisti.
