THE LOLA T87/90
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
The T87/90 at the Lola factory.
The T87/90 continued the trend set by the T86/90 and the T598 in that most of eleven cars built went to the US with just two staying in the UK. Given the success of the S2000 Lolas in the US, notably with Thomas and Steve Knapp this was not a great surprise and Steve would take the Pro Sports 2000 Championship East again while, oddly, Glenn Dudley took the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship but not until 1991 and 1992 but S2000 was falling out of fashion by then in the UK, additionally Mike Wright would win the CK Tools Sports 2000 Championship but not until 1999.
The full technical details of the T87/90 can be found in the Lola Press Release below.
Comparing the pictures of the T87/90 chassis with the pictures of the T86/90 the new monocoque design is very obvious as is the changes to the front suspension notably the change from a top wishbone to a rocker arm which meant the spring/damper units could be moved inboard. At the rear pullrods were now employed as was a new bell-housing with an integral oil tank.
Year(s) of Construction: 1987
Total Built: 11
T87/90 SIGNIFICANT RACE WINS
1988
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17th April | Silverstone | Paul Cope (T87-88/90) | Round 2 of the Brands Hatch Travel Championship |
1989
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th July | Cadwell Park | Mike Wright | Round 7 of the CK Tools Sports 2000 Championship |
| 29th October | Brands Hatch | Mike Wright | Round 11 of the CK Tools Sports 2000 Championship |
1991
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st April | Castle Combe | Chris Gilbert | Round 1 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
| 21st July | Brands Hatch | Glenn Dudley | Round 5 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
| 18th August | Pembrey | Glenn Dudley | Round 7 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
| 1st September | Donington Park | Glenn Dudley | Round 8 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
| 15th September | Mallory Park | Glenn Dudley | Round 9 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
| 13th October | Brands Hatch | Glenn Dudley | Round 10 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
| 20th October | Snetterton | Glenn Dudley | Round 11 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship |
1992
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th April | Thruxton | Glenn Dudley | Round 1 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship. |
| 20th April | Mallor Park | Glenn Dudley | Round 2 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship. |
| 20th April | Castle Combe | Chris Gilbert | Round of the Merlin Motorsport Castle Combe Special GT - 1st overall and Winner Class B |
| 4th May | Castle Combe | Glenn Dudley | Round 3 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship. |
| 25th May | Brands Hatch | Glenn Dudley | Round 4 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship. |
| 25th May | Castle Combe | Chris Gilbert | Round of the Merlin Motorsport Castle Combe Special GT - 1st overall and Winner Class B |
| 19th July | Cadwell Park | Glenn Dudley | Round 5 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship. |
The remaining Molyslip rounds were cancelled and the final five races were incorporated into the Pro-Sport 3000 Championship so the results are Class not overall wins.
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th September | Brands Hatch | Glenn Dudley | Round 6 of the BRSCC Prosports 3000/Molyslip 2000 Championship - Winner Sports 2000 Class A. |
| 12th September | Castle Combe | Chris Grant | Special GT |
| 27th September | Thruxton | Glenn Dudley | Round 7 of the BRSCC Prosports 3000/Molyslip 2000 Championship - Winner Sports 2000 Class A |
| 10th October | Castle Combe | Chris Gilbert | Round of the Merlin Motorsport Castle Combe Special GT - 1st overall and Winner Class B |
| 11th October | Donington Park | Glenn Dudley | Round 8 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship Race 1 - Winner Class A |
| 11th October | Donington Park | Glenn Dudley | Round 9 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship Race 2 - Winner Class A |
| 25th October | Brands Hatch | Glenn Dudley | Round 10 of the Molyslip Sports 2000 Championship Race 2 - Winner Class A |
The T87/90 of Glenn Dudley at Thruxton in 1991.
Mike Wright in his T87/90.
Castle Combe 12th September 1992: Chris Grant's T87/90 won the Special GT race. (Picture courtesy of Ben Cowdrey)
R. Cooke - Spa Summer Classic 2010 Sport Proto Cup – Sports 2000 (Picture courtesy of Steven Vandeputte)
