Chris Dyson told reporters that he “could not be happier to be behind the wheel of the latest Lola. The car is fundamentally very good and has a huge amount of potential. The engine is strong and the car’s feedback gives the driver a lot of confidence.”
Peter Weston, chief engineer, explained some of the car’s characteristics. “The Lola coupe is a race car that does pretty much everything well. Lola has been able to maintain good low speed grip while putting the majority of the car’s stiffness back on the front, which allows a driver to really roll up his sleeves and draw more performance out of the car. Our drivers can impart their own driving styles into the car and it will respond accordingly.”
“It is a very capable, straight-forward type of car,” agreed Butch Leitzinger. “I would say from a performance standpoint, one of its stronger advantages is the amount of attack you can throw at the car. You can drive this car very aggressively, and it likes it. I have found that to be a trait of a good race car: the harder you push it, the more confidence it instills. This is very beneficial in a long race when you are able to dictate to the car what you want from it for twelve hours rather than having the car call the shots.”
Lola Chassis, Mazda Engine
The chassis is an updated version of the proven Lola B07/40 endurance-racing coupe.
The new cars are powered by the 2.0 liter turbocharged Mazda MZR-R engines prepared by Advanced Engine Research (AER) Ltd. This twin cam, four-valve inline four-cylinder engine makes approximately 500 BHP and 400 ft-lbs. of torque, easily enough to keep the 800 kg. Lola chassis competitive. The new engine is smaller and lighter than the AER P07 which was campaigned successfully in Le Mans Series Lolas in Europe through the past two seasons.
Dyson Racing and MAZDASPEED plan a long-term involvement in ALMS. Team owner Rob Dyson has commented in the past that Mazda’s zeal for racing impressed the Dyson team. The decision to join up with longtime partners Lola, Mazda, and AER seemed almost inevitable, according to Chris Dyson.
““It was not a question of ‘if’—it was a question of ‘when’ Mazda and Dyson Racing would come together. There is a real common sense of purpose, and a shared sense of integrity with Mazda and all of our partners,” Dyson explained.
Rob Dyson is extremely optimistic about the new partnership.
“The Winter Test showed how naturally this melding of prior partners and new partners is going to work throughout the season,” he said. “We look forward to the 12 Hours of Sebring and another ALMS season of first-class quality competition.”
The American Le Mans Series will celebrate its 100th race and open its 11th season with the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on Saturday, March 21.
