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Bechtolsheimer Purchases Lola Cars Brand, Technical Assets

Lola Cars brand plans to be revived into modern-day motorsport….

Photo: Lola Cars

Accomplished historic racer and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship driver Till Bechtolsheimer has purchased the assets of Lola Cars, including its Technical Centre, with plans to bring the brand back into motorsports in the near future.

The sale, completed earlier this year but announced on Friday, includes the brand, its registered trademarks, technical drawing library and various other items of tooling and equipment.

Also included is the Lola Technical Centre and wind tunnel facility in Huntingdon, England.

“I have had a lifelong passion for motorsport and, like most motorsport fans, have always loved the Lola brand.

“What both Eric Broadley and Martin Birrane achieved with Lola is awe inspiring. It is a daunting but exciting prospect to try and rebuild Lola in their footsteps and do justice to their legacy.”

Bechtolsheimer has purchased the assets held by Peer Group plc, the Birrane family Property Company.

“My family is very pleased that the Lola brand is in the ownership of a businessman and racer who will write the next chapter for this long-established British motor racing icon,” said Peer Group plc chairman Amanda Birrane.

“My father would be delighted to see Lola back in competitive motorsport and especially back at Le Mans. We wish Till every success.”

The 40-year-old U.S.-based Englishman said he has plans to re-establish Lola as a “leading design and engineering force” in modern motorsport, although is not yet ready to reveal what the company’s first motorsport project will be.

“I have built a career investing in energy efficiency and see motorsport playing a significant role in the innovation and testing of new solutions,” said Bechtolsheimer.

“Through Lola, we hope to develop and provide investment for some of these solutions.

“I have a huge amount of respect for the industry and understand that this will be a long process.

“We have immediate plans for substantial upgrades to the Lola Technical Centre, in particular the wind tunnel, and are actively working towards our first project to put new Lolas back on track.

“I firmly believe that our biggest asset is the Lola name and what it means to so many in the motorsport industry, it will help us to attract great talent and form lasting partnerships.”

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John

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