Lola in administration

[A Scotsman]

This is not good news. Lola is an important part of the UK's motorsport history.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/99638

[KDIcarmad]

Sad! A once great race car build!

lets hope someone saves them.

[Eric Mc]

Again.

Is it still owned by Gerry Birrane?

And weren't they collaborating with Caterham Cars?

[ceebmoj]

Just had the news letter from Lola with the same news. Sad day for all involved hope that a positive solution is found. it will be interesting to see when PH pick up on it with the build up to Le Mans.

Edited by ceebmoj on Wednesday 16th May 11:02

[ewenm]

Eric Mc said:

And weren't they collaborating with Caterham Cars?

on the SP300.R I think. Not sure where it leaves that project although Caterham were only looking at selling 25 of those a year IIRC.

[Johnboy Mac]

Eric Mc said:

Is it still owned by Gerry Birrane?

Yep, still owned by Martin Birrane.

[Eric Mc]

Martin

[wildman0609]

ewenm said:

on the SP300.R I think. Not sure where it leaves that project although Caterham were only looking at selling 25 of those a year IIRC.

the initial concept from was laid down by lola and now caterham has built up the engineering staffing it has gone it alone.

very sad news about lola, some of the best sports/proto's the world has ever seen has come from them. hope they can find fresh investment soon.

[andy97]

Not just Lola Cars but Lola Composites, too. The latter was active in the defence, aerospace & comms spheres.

Hope a solution can be found.

[With these feet]

Quite bizzare really when you look at the orders they have had with their LMP cars.
I worked there for a while and have some friends still there. I met MB when he drove a (his old) 212 that I used to look after in 07.
Hope that they manage to find a backer, fond memories of pushing the 675 out onto class pole at LeMans in '01 to a massive cheer of British fans.

[suffolk009]

So are Lola still involved in the Caterham sp300?

The local news at lunchtime (Anglia) said that Lola had invested heavily in a wind-tunnel. Gotta be worth someone like Caterham and Fernandez having a look at what will be available?

[matt3001]

Any word on which IP is likely to be appointed?

[HereBeMonsters]

Can we all put a couple of quid in a jar and buy it then?

[Fantuzzi]

Shame.

Hope they can get some funding.

[Notshortnottall]

HereBeMonsters said:

Can we all put a couple of quid in a jar and buy it then?

Can't help but think there's a business opportunity there. I know I for one would invest.

Might get on the phone now.........

[VladD]

Could Lola be absorbed into Caterham?

[ewenm]

VladD said:

Could Lola be absorbed into Caterham?

If Tony F stumps up the cash, I guess so.

[toppstuff]

I am quite surprised at this.

Wind tunnel capabilities and skills are much in demand. Motorsport teams that lack them, need them. It ought to be able to pay it's way.

And then you consider the company's image, brand and global reputation, together with the rise of interest in Motorsport in developing countries around the world, and you wonder why on earth they don't have more projects going on and, therefore, better cash flow.

Questions have to be asked about the quality of management.

Would not surprise me if some clever private equity guys swoop in and take control. There is value in the company, but maybe not under it's current management team.

[Scuffers]

note nobody has commented on the reports that HMRC have basically sunk them?

Love to understand the detail of this, development tax relief is supposed to encourage development, so I wonder why they have decided to pull it for Lola?

[ted20]

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Home/Lola-staff-in...

I wonder how this will impact on teams at LeMans?