Le Mans 24 Hours 2006
Lola 1-2 Finish at Le Mans. Issued June 21st 2006 by Lola Cars

RML Dominates LMP2

A second consecutive LMP2 class victory for the RML MG Lola saw the conclusion of another successful Le Mans 24 Hours for the Huntingdon-based customer racing car manufacturer Lola this weekend.

A unique 1-2-4 result in the prototype class and all bar one of the five Lola sportscars finishing the world's most grueling event completed a memorable week for all Lola's customer teams.

Lola sportscars have now won the last three classic sportscar endurance LMP2 classes: at Le Mans 2005, Petit Le Mans 2005, Sebring 2006 and now Le Mans once again. It is also the first time an LMP2 car has ever finished inside the top ten. It was also the third LMP2 victory for Lola at Le Mans in the last four years.

RML thoroughly dominated the LMP2 class, with Tommy Erdos/Mike Newton and Andy Wallace leading all bar a handful of laps in the red, white and blue MG Lola.

After an initial battle in the first hour with the Chamberlain Synergy/ASM Lola B05/40, Tommy Erdos gradually built up an impressive lead before handing the driving duties over to his team mates, Andy Wallace and Mike Newton.

Throughout the evening and in to the night-time running, the car ran faultlessly, stretching its lead to seven laps after 13 hours running and holding a very impressive sixth overall at one stage.

“The car was a pleasure to drive,” enthused Andy Wallace after completing one of his stints. “ It is the best handling prototype I have driven here for a while. I can actually track the leading LMP1 cars through the fast corners and follow them really closely. It feels so stable.”

By mid-day on Sunday the car was 10 laps ahead of its nearest rival, the Miracle Courage C65 and eighth overall, with all three drivers sharing some impressive and contained driving.

The team responded well to a broken lead on the battery auxiliary during the twentieth hour, before Mike Newton realised a long held dream to take the chequered flag to clinch the LMP2 victory.

“It feels fantastic and I am so proud of the team,” said a delighted Newton after the race. “ It was more or less faultless and just shows what you can do with great preparation and planning. To win the class again is even better because we had such a great run. We are a very proud team today.”

Best Laps
Wednesday Qualifying: 4m34.940s (Tommy Erdos)
Thursday Qualifying: 3m41.555s (Tommy Erdos – 12th overall; 1st in LMP2)
Race: 3m44.495s (Tommy Erdos)

Lola Press Release, dated 21st June 2006