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THE LOLA T87/30


All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.


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The T87/30 in a less than salubrious area the Lola factory.

The F1 T87/30 was commissioned by the Larrousse Calmels team and was Lola's first Formula 1 design since 1975's T371 and only the seventh in their thirty-one-year history*.

By 1987 the Grand Prix scene was being dominated by the turbo-charged cars but there were still a few teams that were unable to source and/or finance these 1000 BHP+ engines and were still relying on the good old Ford V8, now in 3.5 litre DFZ form and producing some 575 BHP. Given that the normally aspirated cars were often 6 or 7 seconds a lap slower than the turbos, especially in qualifying when the turbos could be turned up, the FIA, to encourage the normally aspirated teams Lola, Tyrrell, AGS, March and Coloni, introduced the Jim Clark Trophy for the Ford-powered teams that would score points on the usual 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis.

The design, by Ralph Bellamy and Eric Broadley, of the T87/30 (entered in F1 races as the LC87) was, not surprisingly for a customer car, conventional for the time. It featured a carbon fibre monocoque with aluminium honeycomb composite used in the floor and internal bulkheads. The front suspension comprised unequal length wishbones and inboard spring/damper units operated by pushrods. At the rear, the Ford engine was a stressed member with the suspension of unequal length wishbones, track control links and inboard pushrod operated spring/damper units attaching to the Hewland FGB gearbox and cast magnesium bellhousing. Driver adjustable anti-roll bars were fitted front and rear.

The T87/30 missed the Brazilian GP, the opening round of the 1987 F1 season but from then on proved very competitive in the Jim Clark Trophy, the single car, for the first thirteen races, battling with the Tyrrell 016 pair of Jonathan Palmer and Philippe Streiff. Unfortunately, nine retirements in fifteen races meant he finished the season in third place in the Jim Clark Trophy, three sixth places overall saw the Larousse Calmels team finish ninth (out of sixteen teams) in the World Constructors Championship.

*The 1985/86 Carl Haas entered Beatrice sponsored F1 cars were badged as Lolas but had almost no connection with the company other than Eric Broadley was credited as being Chief Engineer for the team. Both the THL1 and THL2 models were designed and constructed by the Haas-owned FORCE company.

Year(s) of Construction: 1987

Total Built: 3

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The Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 installation in the T87/30.

T87/30 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX RECORD


1987

DATE
RACE
DRIVER
RESULT
RACE CHASSIS
12th April Brazilian Grand Prix- Jacarepaguá Did Not Enter - -
3rd May San Marino Grand Prix - Imola Philippe Alliot Qualified - 23rd
Race - 10th (2nd Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/01
17th May Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps Philippe Alliot Qualified - 22nd
Race - 8th (1st Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/01
31st May Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco Philippe Alliot Qualified - 18th
Race - DNF (Engine)
LC87/01
21st June Detroit Grand Prix - Detroit Philippe Alliot Qualified - 20th
Race - DNF (Accident)
LC87/02
5th July French Grand Prix - Paul Ricard Philippe Alliot Qualified - 23rd
Race - DNF (Gearbox)
LC87/02
12th July British Grand Prix - Silverstone Philippe Alliot Qualified - 21st
Race - DNF (Gearbox)
LC87/02
26th July German Grand Prix - Hockenheimring Philippe Alliot Qualified - 21st
Race - 6th (3rd Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/03
9th August Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring Philippe Alliot Qualified - 15th
Race - DNF (Accident)
LC87/03
16th August Austrian Grand Prix - Österreichring Philippe Alliot Qualified - 22nd
Race - 12th (2nd Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/02
6th September Italian Grand Prix - Monza Philippe Alliot Qualified - 23rd
Race - DNF (Spun off)
LC87/02
20th September Portuguese Grand Prix - Estoril Philippe Alliot Qualified - 19th
Race - DNF (Engine)
LC87/02
27th September Spanish Grand Prix - Jerez Philippe Alliot Qualified - 17th
Race - 6th (1st Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/02
18th October Mexican Grand Prix - Hermanos Rodríguez Philippe Alliot Qualified - 24th
Race - 6th (1st Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/03
18th October Mexican Grand Prix - Hermanos Rodríguez Yannick Dalmas Qualified - 23rd
Race - 9th (4th Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/02
1st November Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Philippe Alliot Qualified - 19th
Race - DNF (Accident)
LC87/03
1st November Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka Yannick Dalmas Qualified - 23rd
Race - 14th (3rd Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/02
15th November Australian Grand Prix - Adelaide Philippe Alliot Qualified - 17th
Race - DNF (Electrical)
LC87/03
15th November Australian Grand Prix - Adelaide Yannick Dalmas Qualified - 21st
Race - 5th (2nd Jim Clark Trophy)
LC87/02


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The double wishbone and pushrod rear suspension.

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Philippe Alliot winds on the lock.

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Gérard Larrousse, Yannick Dalmas, Philippe Alliot and Didier Calmels pose with the T87/30.

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