Lola Cars International Ltd. was a British race car engineering company in operation from 1958 to 2012. The company was founded by Eric Broadley in Bromley, England, before moving to new premises in Slough, Buckinghamshire and finally Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, and endured for more than fifty years to become one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of racing cars in the world. Lola Cars started by building small front-engined sports cars, and branched out into Formula Junior cars before diversifying into a wider range of sporting vehicles. Lola was acquired by Martin Birrane in 1998 after the unsuccessful MasterCard Lola attempt at Formula One.
The Mazda 767/767B are prototype racing cars that were built by Mazdaspeed for the 24 Hours of Le Mans running under the IMSA-spec GTP class. The 767 replaced the 757 in 1988, upgrading to a newer and larger 4-rotor 13J Wankel engine which produced nearly 600 hp (450 kW).
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States, and occasionally in Canada.
The Chevrolet Corvette GTP was an American Grand Touring Prototype-class sports prototype racing car which successfully participated in the IMSA Camel GT from 1984 until 1989. The car was professionally fielded in competition as General Motors' Chevrolet Corvette C4 official factory team effort in the IMSA GTP class.
The Rondeau M382 was a Group C prototype sports car, designed, developed and built by Automobiles Jean Rondeau in 1981, and used in sports car racing between 1982 and 1986.
The Jaguar XJR-5 is a IMSA GTP sports prototype race car, designed, developed and built by Group 44 racing for Jaguar with the aim of competing, from 1982, in the IMSA GT Championship. Jaguar XJR-5s contested until 1985, before Jaguar replaced it with the Jaguar XJR-7.
The Buick Indy V6 engine is a powerful turbocharged, 3.0–3.4 L (180–210 cu in), V-6, Indy car racing internal combustion engine, designed and produced by Buick for use in the C.A.R.T. PPG Indy Car World Series, and later the IRL IndyCar Series; between 1982 and 1997. It shares the same architecture, and mechanical design, and is based on the Buick V6 road car engine. A slightly destroked 3.0-liter V6 engine was also used in the March 85G and March 86G IMSA GTP sports prototypes.
The Lola T160 is a series of purpose-built Group 7 sports prototype race cars, designed and developed by British chassis manufacturer Lola Cars, specifically to compete in the Can-Am series in 1968. It was the successor to the competitive T70, sharing similar design knowledge and cues. Lola built the chassis, constructed out of fiberglass, and molded into an aluminum monocoque. This meant the car was light was lightweight, weighing only 670 kg (1,480 lb). The chassis was designed to accept a small-block engine, but most cars were powered by either the Chevrolet ZL1 or the Ford FE "big-block" motors, generating about 625–750 hp (466–559 kW); mated to a 4-speed or 5-speed Hewland L.G.500 or L.G.600 manual transmission. This made the cars very fast, with a notably excellent power-to-weight ratio. It was used in active competition until 1971, and was succeeded and used alongside the new T220 in 1970.
The Shadow DN2, also known as the Shadow Mk.III, is a purpose-built sports prototype race car, designed, developed and built built by Shadow Racing Cars to Group 7 racing specifications, to compete in the Can-Am racing series, in 1972 and 1973. It was powered by an extremely powerful Chevrolet big-block engine, developing between 800–1,200 hp (600–890 kW), depending on boost pressure levels, and generating an asphalt-shredding 985 lb⋅ft (1,335 N⋅m) of torque The turbocharged system was used for three races, then the team switched back to a naturally aspirated engine, still producing 735 hp (548 kW); which was more than enough to get the job done.
The BRM P154 is a purpose-built sports prototype race car, designed, developed and built built by British Racing Motors to Group 7 racing specifications, specifically to compete in the Can-Am racing series, in 1970. It was BRM's first Can-Am car. Powered by a naturally aspirated, Chevrolet big-block engine, developing 760 hp (570 kW), and 650 lb⋅ft (880 N⋅m) of torque.
The March 85G was a mid-engined IMSA racing sports prototype, designed and developed by March Engineering in 1984 and used in sports car racing until 1988.
The Brabham BT5, and its evolution, the Brabham BT8, are sports racing cars manufactured and developed by Brabham in 1963 (BT5) and 1964 (BT8), respectively. It won a total of 4 races, and achieved 10 podium finishes.
The McLaren M1A, and its derivatives, the McLaren M1B and the McLaren M1C, are a series of mid-engined Group 7 sports prototype race cars built by McLaren, between 1963 and 1968. The M1A was the team's first self-designed and developed sports car. Later versions, such as the 'M1B' and 'M1C', competed and raced in the North American Can-Am series, starting in 1966 season. The car was raced in North America and Europe in 1963 and 1964 in various Group 7 and United States Road Racing Championship series events. 24 examples of the M1A and M1B were built, and 25 examples of the M1C were manufactured. They were powered by a few different motors, including Chevrolet small-block engine, an Oldsmobile V8 engine, a Chevrolet big-block engine, and even a Ford FE engine. It was constructed out of a tubular space frame chassis, and, combined with its light weight of 551 kg (1,215 lb) this gave it a great power-to-weight ratio. The 4.5 L (270 cu in) Oldsmobile V8 engine developed around 310 hp (230 kW), while the 350 cu in (5.7 L) Chevrolet small-block V8 engine was capable of developing over 550 hp (410 kW), and 538 lb⋅ft (729 N⋅m) of torque. This drove the rear wheels through a Hewland L.G.400 four-speed manual transmission.
The McKee Mk.7, also designated as the McKee Mk.VII, is a special purpose-built American sports prototype race car, designed and developed by Bob Nagel, and built to Group 7 specifications, for the Can-Am series, in 1967. It won a total of 2 races, and achieved 4 podium finishes. The configuration is a mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout. The chassis is constructed out of a tubular space frame, wrapped in a fiberglass body. The powerplant that was used varied, but included a Chevrolet small-block, a Chevrolet big-block, an Oldsmobile V8, and even a Ford FE big-block engine.
The Chevron B36 was a Group 6 prototype sports car, designed, developed, and built by British manufacturer Chevron Cars in 1976 and used in sports car racing until 1987. Over that time period, it won a total of 14 races, and achieved 43 podium finishes.
The Chevron B16 was a Group 4 sports prototype race car, designed, developed, and built in 1969 by the British racing car manufacturer Chevron Cars as a two-seater racing sports car for the makes world championship. Brian Redman won the very first outing, the 500 km (310 mi) race at the Nürburgring on September 7, 1969, at a time of 3:13:01.6 hours. The last victory with a Chevron B16 was achieved by Clemens Schickentanz on July 11, 1971, in the sports car race at the Norisring.
The Cooper T61 , also known as the Cooper T61 Monaco, or the Cooper Monaco T61, is a sports racing car, designed, developed and built by British manufacturer Cooper, in 1961. It is the successor and evolution of the T57. Its motor racing career spanned 6 years ; where it won a total of 16 races, achieved 23 podium finishes, and clinched 3 pole positions. It was powered by a number of different engines, including a Coventry Climax four-cylinder engine, a Maserati V8 engine, a Ford FE engine, and a Chevrolet small-block engine.
The Martin BM7, and its successor and derivative, the Martin BM8, are 2-liter sports prototype race cars, designed, developed, and built by British racing driver, automotive engineer, and mechanic, Brian Martin, in 1969 and 1970, respectively. They were constructed to compete in the European 2-Litre Championship sports car racing series. These cars were powered by a number of different engines, including a BMW M12/7, a Ford Motor Company-Cosworth FVC, and a Ford-Cosworth BDX, which all displaced around 2.0 L (120 cu in). These cars won a total of 8 races, and scored 20 podium finishes.
The March 82G is a IMSA GTP/Group C sports prototype race car, designed, developed and built by British manufacturer and constructor March Engineering, for sports car racing, in 1982. It competed in motor racing between 1982 and 1986, but only scored 1 race win, 8 podium finishes, and 2 pole positions. It was powered by a naturally-aspirated 620 hp (460 kW) 5.7 L (350 cu in) Chevrolet V8 engine.
The Alba AR3, and its derivative, the Alba AR3-001, were a series of ground effect IMSA GTP/Group C junior (C2) sports prototype race car, designed, developed and built by Italian manufacturer and constructor, Alba Engineering in 1984, and used in sports car racing until 1988. Its best result was two 4th-place finishes; first at Lime Rock in 1984, being driven by Gianpiero Moretti, and the second at Kyalami in 1987, being driven by Maurizio Gellini and Ranieri Randaccio. It was powered by a number of different engines, including a naturally-aspirated 4.5 L (270 cu in) Buick V6 engine, a turbocharged 4.0 L (240 cu in) Buick Indy V6 engine, a 1.3 L (79 cu in) Mazda 13B 2-rotor wankel rotary engine, a naturally-aspirated 3.0 L (180 cu in) Ford-Cosworth DFV Formula One engine, and a derived 3.3 L (200 cu in) Ford-Cosworth DFL.
