Two years ago, IMSA competitor Till Bechtolsheimer purchased the legendary British racing manufacturer Lola. The company has spent the past two years rebuilding the brand from the ground up ahead of a return to the world of racing, and that return has begun with a new powertrain partnership with Yamaha in Formula E.
The Race first reported on Tuesday that Bechtolsheimer’s revival of Lola would join the electric racing championship. An announcement in Tokyo confirmed the deal on Thursday, adding the crucial detail of a partnership with Yamaha. Lola and Yamaha are expected to supply an existing team in need of a powertrain, like the Abt team that was once Audi’s factory partner in the series, when they join for next year’s season 11.
The Lola-Yamaha alliance joins Stellantis, Porsche, Mahindra, Jaguar, and the Electric Racing Technologies team in building powertrains for the series. Nissan, which provides power for both its factory team and McLaren’s operation, announced later on Thursday that it plans to stick with the series until at least 2030.
In its original iteration, Lola built cars that competed in sports cars and open-wheel racing throughout the world. The brand’s Sixties sports cars were some of the best private owners could buy, highlighted by the T70 that won the 1969 24 Hours of Daytona and the Mk. 6 that became the basis of the first Ford GT. The brand also produced Formula 1 cars and American open-wheelers, although the American entries were more successful. Lola cars won the Indianapolis 500 three times and dominated the last years of ChampCar.