1998 Lola B98/10
1998 Lola B98/10
Brand
Lola Cars
Year
1998
Country
Great Britain
Generation
B98/10
1998 Lola B98/10
Brand
Lola Cars
Year
1998
Country
Great Britain
Generation
B98/10
About this car
Discover the history
The 1998 Lola B98/10 was designed to compete in the growing LMP900 class for sports prototypes, marking Lola’s commitment to building cars for privateer teams after the era of Porsche and Ferrari factory dominance. This open-cockpit prototype was engineered with flexibility in mind, allowing teams to use various engines. While the Roush-designed Ford 6.0L V8 was the core engine, other choices included turbocharged Ford V6s, Judd V10s, and even Chevrolet V8s. This modularity, paired with an advanced aerodynamic design developed through wind tunnel testing, helped the car adapt to diverse racing circuits and team preferences. One unique feature was its easily accessible shock absorbers and anti-roll bars, minimizing time in the pits during setup changes.
The car’s development timeline delayed its competitive debut until 1999, with teams like Dyson Racing first testing it after the Petit Le Mans. Although late to the grid, teams such as Konrad Motorsport, Kremer Racing, and Intersport Racing quickly adopted the chassis. In its first season, the B98/10 participated in prestigious endurance races, such as the 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. Although the Lola struggled with reliability issues—common in prototype racing—the car showed competitive pace, often setting respectable qualifying times. Notably, it reached speeds over 319 km/h at Le Mans, comparable to top contenders of the era. However, like many privateer entries, mechanical failures, including a gearbox issue at Le Mans, marred its finishing record.
The car found success particularly in Europe, where teams like DAMS achieved four victories in the 1999 International Sports Racing Series (ISRS), earning a strong third-place finish in the teams’ championship. Despite competing against factory efforts from Audi, BMW, and Panoz in both Europe and North America, Lola’s customer cars remained a force to be reckoned with. The B98/10’s performance was notable in smaller series where factory efforts were less overwhelming.
By 2000, Lola had introduced the B2K/10, which effectively replaced the B98/10, but some teams continued racing the earlier model. In a bid for further success, Kremer Racing upgraded their car to a B98/K2000 configuration. Though these older models became less competitive in the ever-evolving world of prototype racing, they still made appearances in events such as the FIA Sportscar Championship and select North American races. In one interesting twist, the B98/10 was even featured in the 2002 Le Mans race for a film about the comic book character Michel Vaillant, emphasizing its iconic status in motorsport culture.
The B98/10’s racing career lasted until 2003, when it made its final appearance at the FIA Sportscar Championship in Donington. Although it was often outpaced by newer, factory-backed entries, the B98/10 remained a competitive option for privateer teams during its time, bridging the gap between factory efforts and smaller racing outfits. Its legacy is remembered for being a versatile, customer-friendly prototype that allowed independent teams to compete on the world’s biggest stages.
