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THE LOLA T280


All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.


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The Ecurie Bonnier entered T280 at the 1972 Brands Hatch 1000 kms, a round of the World Sportscar Championship... (Picture courtesy of Peter Collins)

In 1972 Lola built two designs of sports car in addition to the Can-Am T310, these were the T280 and the T290. The two designs were virtually identical, an aluminium monocoque chassis with a front suspension comprising double wishbones, coil springs over dampers and an anti-roll bar, at the rear reversed lower wishbones, top links, twin radius rods, coil springs over dampers and anti-roll bar. The notable difference was that the tub terminated at the roll hoop and the engine, gearbox and rear suspension were mounted to a tubular steel frame, by changing this frame different engine/gearbox combinations could be used. In the case of the T280 the 3-litre Ford DFV and a Hewland DG300 gearbox were fitted and for the T290 a 2-litre FVC and Hewland FG 400 was the usual choice.

The T280 was commissioned by Jo Bonnier who had arranged sponsorship with the Karl von Wendt racing team to compete in the World Championship for Makes but, when this fell through, Bonnier was forced to find an estimated £100,000 (over one million pounds at today's prices) to fund the project himself. The T280s, entered by Ecurie Bonnier, frequently showed that the car was fast, frequently qualifying in the top five and setting fastest laps at Buenos Aires and Le Mans. However unreliability and the tragic fatal accident to Bonnier at the Le Mans 24 Hours when he hit a slower car understandably left the season as a case of what might have been.

Year(s) of Construction: 1972

Total Built: 5 - NB Chassis HU280/5 was used to rebuild HU280/2 (Bonnier's Le Mans car)

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...where, driven by Chris Craft and Gérard Larrousse, seen here leading eventual winner, the Ferrari 312P of Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx... (Gerald Swan)

1972 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP OF MAKES

DATERACE/VENUEDRIVERSQUALIFYINGRESULT
9th January Round 1 - 1000 km Buenos Aires Gérard Larrousse/Chris Craft
Reine Wisell/Gérard Larrousse/Jo Bonnier (DNS)
6th
5th
7th - 6th in class
DNF
6th February Round 2 - Daytona 6 Hours Reine Wisell/Jo Bonnier/Gérard Larrousse (DNS)/Nestor Garcia-Veiga (DNS)
Gérard Larrousse/Chris Craft(DND)/Nestor Garcia-Veiga (DND)
4th

7th
NC

DNF
25th March Round 3 - Sebring 12 Hours Gérard Larrousse/Jo Bonnier/Reine Wisell 8th 6th - 4th in class
16th April Round 4 - 1000 km Brands Hatch Reine Wisell/Gérard Larrousse (DNP)/Jo Bonnier (DNS)
Chris Craft/Gérard Larrousse (DND)
6th
5th
DNF
DNF
25th April Round 5 - 1000 km Monza Gérard Larrousse/Hughes de Fierlant (DND)
Reine Wisell/Jo Bonnier
5th
4th
DNF
DNF
7th May Round 6 - 1000km Spa Gérard Larrousse/Hughes de Fierlant 4th 5th - 4th in class
11th June Round 9 - Le Mans 24 Hours Jo Bonnier/Gijs van Lennep/Gérard Larrousse
Hughes de Fierlant/Gérard Larrousse/ Jo Bonnier/Mario Cabral (DNS)/Jorge de Bagration (DNS)
5th
9th
DNF
DNF
25th June Round 10 - 1000 km Zeltweg Gérard Larrousse/Vic Elford (DND) 2nd DNF
22nd July Round 11 - Watkins Glen 6 Hours Reine Wisell/Gérard Larrousse (DND) 2nd DNF


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...it qualified fifth but retired in the race. (Picture courtesy of Peter Collins)

T280 SIGNIFICANT RACE WINS


1972

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
19th March Le Mans – 4 Hours Jo Bonnier/Hughes de Fierlant Non-Championship event.
7th May Bourbach le Haut - Côte de Bourbach le Haut Nello Chelli  
21st May Angoulème - Côte d'Angoulème Nello Chelli  
18th June Estoril - Estoril Inauguracao Carlos Gaspar Sports Cars
9th July Vila Real - XIX Circuito de Vila Real, Campeonato Nacional de Velocidade (Táca VII Centenário de Vila Real) Carlos Gaspar Winner of the S3.0 Class
15th October Rouen - 1000 km de Paris Gérard Larrousse/Jean-Pierre Beltoise Non-Championship event - First Overall and Winner S3.0 Class

1974

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
3rd March Brands Hatch - BARC Jeremy Lord Round 1 of the Tricentrol Sports GT Championship
31st March Silverstone - (BARC N Thames Centre) Jeremy Lord Round of the Tricentrol Sports GT Championship
15th April Thruxton - BARC Easter Monday Meeting Jeremy Lord Round of the Tricentrol Sports GT Championship
27th May Silverstone - BRDC Jeremy Lord Round of the Jaybrand Formule Libre Championship
3rd August Aintree - Aintree CC Jeremy Lord Sports GT Cars
11th August Brands Hatch - BARC EMI/Radio Luxembourg Pop Day Jeremy Lord Tricentrol Sports GT Championship
26th August Castle Combe - BARC Jeremy Lord Tricentrol Sports GT Championship
27th October Thruxton - BARC Jeremy Lord Tricentrol Sports GT Championship

1976

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
11th July Silverstone - AMOC Jeremy Lord Goddard and Smith Trophy Race for GT and Sports Cars


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The Ecurie Bonnier mechanics work on one of the two Bonnier T280s at Brands Hatch, the second was driven by Reine Wisell and Gérard Larrousse and also retired. (Gerald Swan)

1983

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
25th September Brands Hatch Ray Mallock/John Cooper Thundersports - Round 7

2008

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
19th-20th April Donington - Masters/HGPCA Leo Voyazides Prototype 70s - Winner of Class D

2009

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
9th-10th May Donington Park National - Donington Masters Classic Leo Voyazides Prototype 70s with Touring 70s - First overall and Winner of the DE Class - Race 1
9th-10th May Donington Park National - Donington Masters Classic Leo Voyazides Prototype 70s with Touring 70s - First overall and Winner of the DE Class - Race 2

2010

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
30th-31st May Brands Hatch - Masters Festival Leo Voyazides Interserie Revival - Winner Class D
6th June Monza - 58° Coppa Intereuropa Storica Michel Quiniou Classic Endurance Racing - First Overall and Winner Class PR02

2011

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
3rd September Donington Park - Masters Racing Club Leo Voyazides Proto 70's incl Invited MSP Cars - Race 1 - Winner Protos Class
4th September Donington Park - Masters Racing Club Leo Voyazides Proto 70's incl Invited MSP Cars - Race 2 - Winner Protos Class

2012

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
9th-10th June Imola - Classic Michel Quiniou Classic Endurance Racing - Race 2 - First Overall and Winner Proto 2 (1973-1979) Class
13th October Donington Park - Masters Racing Club Leo Voyazides CanAm Interserie Challenge - Race 1 - Winner DeC Class

2013

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
6th-7th April Imola - Classic Michel Quinou Classic Endurance Racing - Race 2 - First Overall and Winner PR2 Class
26th May Brands Hatch - Masters Festival Leo Voyazides/Simon Hadfield CanAm Interserie Challenge - Winner DeC Class

2016

DATE
VENUE/MEETING
DRIVER
NOTES
22nd May Silverstone International Trophy Voyazides/Wolfe Pre 80 Endurance - Winner Class SP4


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A cutaway drawing of the T280.

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Detail sketch of the T280.

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The T280 at Gatwick Airport...

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...ready for transportation to Jo Bonnier.

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The Franco Meiners/Alex Caffi T280 at the Le Mans Classic. (Picture courtesy of Peter Collins)

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Carlos Barbot's T280 at the Monza Classic... (Picture courtesy of Peter Collins)

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...and the Spa 6 Hours. (Picture courtesy of Jon Bunston)

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Another shot from Spa. (Picture courtesy of Jon Bunston)