1981 Lola T600
1981 Lola T600
Brand
Lola Cars
Year
1981
Country
Great Britain
Generation
T600
1981 Lola T600
Brand
Lola Cars
Year
1981
Country
Great Britain
Generation
T600
About this car
Discover the history
The Lola T600, introduced in 1981, marked a significant leap in sports prototype racing with its innovative ground-effects technology, which had been first developed for Formula One cars. Designed by Eric Broadley, the T600 aimed to restore Lola’s dominance in endurance racing, a domain that had been increasingly ruled by Porsche and Ferrari in previous years. The car’s aerodynamic design, particularly its use of venturi tunnels, allowed it to generate significant downforce, making it a formidable competitor on the track.
The chassis construction of the T600 was also groundbreaking. To handle the immense forces created by the ground-effects design, Lola used a carbon-fiber composite structure, an advanced material for its time. This made the T600 not only aerodynamically efficient but also lightweight and rigid, essential traits for competitive endurance racing. Powering the T600 was a range of engines depending on the team, with most cars using Chevrolet V8 engines, although some European teams, like those running in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, opted for alternatives such as the Ford Cosworth DFL. The flexibility of the chassis to accommodate different powertrains was one of its many strengths.
On its racing debut in the 1981 IMSA GTX series, the T600 made an immediate impact. With Brian Redman behind the wheel for the Cooke-Woods Racing team, the car won its first race at Laguna Seca and went on to dominate the season. Redman achieved several victories, including wins at Lime Rock, Mid-Ohio, Portland, and Road Atlanta, ultimately securing the IMSA championship. This success was particularly notable because it broke Porsche’s stranglehold on the championship, which they had dominated since 1977. The T600’s performance in the IMSA series cemented its reputation, leading to high demand for the car, with Lola producing 12 units for various teams.
In Europe, the T600 saw less success, although it did achieve notable results, such as a class victory at the Nürburgring 1000 km and a third-place finish at Le Mans in its class. The car also won the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch, showcasing its ability to compete against the likes of Porsche and Ferrari on the global stage. However, the introduction of newer, more advanced prototypes like the Porsche 956 soon overshadowed the T600, and its competitiveness began to wane.
By 1982, although teams like Interscope Racing continued to field the T600 with drivers like Danny Ongais, the car’s dominance was fading. The T600’s reliance on ground-effects, while innovative, was soon surpassed by newer designs, and by the mid-1980s, the T600 had largely been relegated to the back of the grid. Despite this, its legacy as one of the first ground-effects sports cars remains significant, influencing future designs and marking a pivotal moment in endurance racing history.
The Lola T600’s contributions to motorsport are still recognized today as a turning point in the design of sports prototypes, influencing cars that would come later in both the IMSA series and the World Endurance Championship. Its innovative use of ground-effects technology and carbon-fiber construction set a standard that future endurance racers would build upon.
