THE LOLA T242
All pictures courtesy of Bill Wooldridge.
The T242 with what sems to be an experimental nose in the Lola factory.
During 1971 Frank Gardner was employed by Lola to test the Formula 2 T240 which was in need of some development and while he was testing the car he suggested to Eric Broadley that fitting a F5000 Chevy V8 to the T240 could make for a very interesting replacement for the T192, Lola's 1971 F5000 design.
Lola proceeded to make up a new car based on the T240 monocoque, beefing up the design to deal with the increased weight and power of a 5-litre Chevrolet V8, the American engine weighing more than twice as much as the F2 FVA and producing around 500 bhp compared to 225 bhp for the 1.6-litre engine. Additionally a Hewland DG300 was used instead of a Hewland FT200, again to deal with the greater power and torque.
Initially the car was called a T242, but this designation was also used for the 1972 version of the T240 Formula B design, so it only appeared at its debut race with this type number, from then on it was called a T300 and this first chassis only was known as the T300P.
The new design was an immediate hit, in its first three races it finished third, second and finally first until it was written of in an accident in its fourth race.
Year(s) of Construction: 1971
Total Built: 1
1971 ROTHMANS F5000 CHAMPIONSHIP CHASSIS T300P
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
ENTRANT |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st August | Thruxton | Lola Cars Ltd. | Frank Gardner | 3rd |
| 14th August | Silverstone | Lola Cars Ltd | Frank Gardner | 2nd |
| 21st August | Rothmans International Gold Cup, Oulton Park | Lola Cars Ltd. | Frank Gardner | 1st |
| 30th August | Snetterton | Lola Cars Ltd | Frank Gardner | DNF |
