Abt and Lola-Yamaha: A long-prepared surprise / Formula E

Lola was a fancy name for a racing car manufacturer that was not always spoiled by success: from 1958 by founder Eric Broadley, later by Martin Birrane. Formula 1, F2, F 3000, especially sports prototypes were the field of activity. With the last F1 project, Lola went bankrupt as a factory team in 1997 after failing to qualify (Sospiri, Rosset) in the season opener in Melbourne. Birrane’s revival also ended in bankruptcy in 2012. Two years ago, British investment advisor and IMSA driver Till Bechtolheimer bought the rights to the trademark from the Birrane family.

And a year and a half ago, a veteran of formula racing joined Lola as the new sporting director: Mark Preston, ex-Arrows, ex-McLaren and Formula E champion from Techeetah. He put Lola together with Yamaha. The motorcycle manufacturer was the engine partner of several F1 teams from 1989 to 1997, with former Rindt mechanic and later FIA safety chief Herbie Blash as race director.

14 days after Lola-Yamaha announced the big Formula E project, the announcement was made that Abt-Cupra will be the first partner from the eleventh season (2024/25). The Allgäu team is currently running a Mahindra car for the second year.

For Australian Mark Preston, the job at Lola is déjà vu: “When I went to England in the 1990s, I wrote a few applications, including Lola. I was rejected and ended up at Arrows. Ten years later, in 2008, I received an offer from Martin Birrane, which I refused. Now it worked. We want to break new ground with alternative drives – electric, hydrogen, synthetic fuel,” explains Preston, who has been working at Lola since December 2022.

Opponents become allies

Abt-Cupra’s contract with Lola began to strengthen since the 2023 final in London, confirms team boss Thomas Biermaier, “that’s when the year 2025 was discussed for the first time. Since then there has been constant communication.” This meant that two former competitors met: “I don’t know how many races we were rivals, but our drivers were on the podium,” added Preston, looking back on the Techeetah time. against Abt-Audi. Preston always relied on contacts in Japan, especially Yamaha: “Their representatives were at the FE race in New York five years ago to investigate.”

Whether the Volkswagen Cupra brand remains a sponsor will be defined at the end of the season in July, says Biermaier, who is convinced: “In Cupra they love Formula E.” Although the propulsion itself was never planned.

The Abt Cupra Lola Yamaha will soon make its first laps, “although we are a little behind schedule,” as Biermaier admits. “But I am optimistic because there are many experts in our party. And people like Mark who know how to win championships. The decision to enter into this relationship was easy.” Apparently the rumored contact with Porsche fell through, and parting ways with Mahindra has been on the cards for some time.

The question of the driver for the eleventh season still remains: Biermaier explains that they are very happy with Lucas di Grassi, although he still has no points this year, and Nico Müller, who recently showed his performance in Tokyo. The recent secret trial between Thun and Porsche will not be commented on. “But everything is open for season eleven. There’s going to be a lot of discussion.”

Biermaier describes the issues of further projects between Abt and Lola as “too early”. Long distance may be an issue, but: “There’s nothing real about it.” And Preston adds: “Lola does not hide the fact that we are very interested in Le Mans and the WEC and we are open to new projects.”

All Formula E 2024 races will be broadcast live on ServusTV, this weekend from 2:50 pm in Austria on the linear channel ServusTV and on the streaming platform News TV On (here also both qualifying sessions starting at 10:20 am). In Germany, ServusTV broadcasts linearly on DF1 and digitally on ServusTV On, df1.de as well as via speedweek.com and ServusTV Motorsport on MagentaTV. Daniel Goggi and expert Daniel Abt comments.