A New Chapter for Lola in Formula E
The 2026-27 Formula E season is set to be a highly competitive one, with major OEMs such as Porsche, Jaguar, and Stellantis all committed to the Gen4 era. However, one brand that has recently made a comeback is also aiming to challenge these industry giants.
Lola, a name well-known in motorsport history, has a rich legacy in both sportscar racing and junior formulae. Despite its brief and challenging stint in Formula 1 with Mastercard sponsorship, the British marque achieved significant success as a constructor over the years. Unfortunately, the brand disappeared from motorsport after filing for bankruptcy.
In 2024, there was great excitement when Lola returned to motorsport following its acquisition by businessman Till Bechtolsheimer. However, entering Formula E during the Gen3 era put the team at a disadvantage, and they have struggled to achieve consistent results so far.
Last season, the Lola-Yamaha Abt venture finished at the bottom of the standings with just 32 points and four top-10 finishes. This season, the challenges have only increased, with issues such as overheating and rear-traction problems affecting performance. The team has managed to secure only one point from the first eight rounds.
The Gen4 era presents a fresh opportunity for Lola to compete on equal footing with the leading manufacturers. Team principal Mark Preston highlighted the difficulties faced during the Gen3 cycle:
- “In Gen 3, we came halfway through a cycle and that makes a difference. We are two years behind them, so that’s the big thing. Have a look at F1 and certainly my experience in Formula E. It takes some time when you get a new team going and working together. It does take time, especially when they’re ahead, so you can’t expect to catch up immediately. So, starting at the same time [in Gen4] as everybody else is key.”
Preston emphasized that the focus is on building consistently and competing for points in races.
Preparing for the Gen4 Era
Competing in the Gen4 era was always part of Lola’s long-term plan. The team, along with its technical partner Yamaha, has been actively developing the new powertrain. While there were some early setbacks, the programme is now back on track.
Like most teams, Lola conducted initial testing at Monteblanco and Almeria using a hybrid car that combined Gen3 and Gen4 powertrains. Only Jaguar and potentially Porsche have completed tests with the full Gen4 package so far.
- “We had a bit of a hybrid version up until now in order to get going so quickly because there was the opportunity to test late last year, and we thought it was worth making the trade-off to get out on track and start finding some of the issues. So we found some issues and we solved the issues, and now they’re being implemented on the full version of the car which we’ll go testing [with soon].”
Lola has expanded its Silverstone facility to support the Gen4 programme, including the installation of a state-of-the-art simulator. The technical partnership with Yamaha has been renewed, but Abt will no longer be part of the alliance. Instead, Lola is taking control by establishing an in-house team. Current Abt employees have been offered positions within the new structure, and several key hires have already been made.
- “The car’s being built at the moment,” Preston said about the Gen4 programme. “All of the latest parts are arriving and we should be going testing [with the full car] quite soon. All the modelling and simulation and the activities that happened before the car itself actually arrives on track have been going to plan. Everyone’s been working on it for quite a while now, so it feels like we’re making progress.”
Technological Advancements in Gen4
The Gen4 rules represent a major leap in technology for Formula E. With headline figures such as 800bhp and performance exceeding that of F2, the cars are becoming more complex, presenting significant challenges for engineers.
Teams have successfully requested the FIA to allow two additional staff members to operate the cars next season, highlighting the increased workload they will face.
- “It’s obviously a big step in the active differentials and stuff that is on the car,” Preston explained. “Active differentials on the rear have been in F1 for a while, but nobody’s run, at least that I know of, electric powertrains with a front active diff in an open-wheeler. Obviously, we’ve all experienced four-wheel drive now but we’ve got new tyres. Tyres are pretty dominant in any racing series and it’s much more of an aero car, so those two factors will add up.”
Leadership and Future Plans
On-track development is being led by Formula E stalwart Lucas di Grassi, who will retire from full-time competition at the end of the season to take on a larger role elsewhere. Whether he joins Lola in a managerial capacity or moves to Formula E Operations remains uncertain.
His departure will also create a vacancy within the team alongside Zane Maloney, who has shown promise in his short Formula E career. The choice of who leads the Gen4 programme may reveal how ambitious this revived motorsport giant intends to be.
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