RML
Industry News 2008
Lola 50th celebrated through the streets of Huntingdon.
Issued by Lola Cars Limited, October 2nd 2008
A
Golden Parade through the Streets of Huntingdon
On
Sunday 12 October, Huntingdon will be set for a taste of
Monte Carlo-style action when a symbolic parade of racing
cars takes to the streets of the Cambridgeshire town.
The
parade will be a fitting hometown celebration to mark Lola
Cars' 50th Anniversary in 2008. Up to 16 race cars will
take part in this landmark occasion, representing Lola’s
iconic designs from the past half-century to the current
day.
Heading
up the parade will be the all-new RML MG-Lola LMP2 Coupé
dressed in its stunning red, white and blue livery, which
will be competing in next year’s Le Mans Series and,
entry permitting, the Le Mans 24 Hours race. Other cars
in the parade with a more historic pedigree will include:
the Mk1, the first Lola sportscar built; the Lola T90 that
Sir Jackie Stewart raced at the 1967 Indy 500; through to
the sleek design of the Lola T70.
Also
lining up on the spectacular grid of cars that span the
full 50 years of Lola’s existence will be the A1 Grand
Prix Team Malaysia Lola that has won races in the World
Cup of Motorsport. Up and coming single seater ace, Fairuz
Fauzy will drive this striking Lola design. Stars from half
a century of Lola racing will be meeting up with old friends
and their old mounts at the parade. These personalities
will include Richard Attwood, Hugh Dibley, Jackie Epstein,
Alain De Cadenet, Mike Blanchet, James Weaver, Julian Bailey,
Anthony Reid and Peter Ashdown. Martin Birrane, the owner
of Lola Cars, has invited Eric Broadley MBE, the marque’s
founder, to be an integral part of the Golden celebration.
The 80-year-old Broadley will take the passenger seat of
a Lola for the procession. Another notable passenger will
be Jonathan Djanogly, MP for the Huntingdon constituency,
who will be driven in Lola’s latest track-day car.
At
12.00 noon, Saeed Akthar, Worshipful Mayor of Huntingdon,
will be waving a Union Jack to start the parade officially
from Lola’s headquarters in Huntingdon. The unique
collection of cars will then travel a designated two mile
route via the local ring road, finishing with the cars forming
a spectacular ‘paddock’ in Huntingdon’s
historic market square. Lola will also be hosting a public
‘Q & A’ session from the Town Hall balcony
that overlooks the paddock area. The interviews will be
supported by local dignitaries and an array of drivers associated
with Lola throughout its fifty year history, including 500cc
Motorcycle and 1964 Formula One World Champion John Surtees.
Lola
and the local authorities have been working together to
make sure all the necessary provisions are put in place
to make it a safe and enjoyable day for the local community
and visitors. The parade route and paddock area are within
easy walking distance from Huntingdon train station, with
the event organisers encouraging visitors to maximise local
transport facilities.
Martin
Birrane commented, “Given the nature of motorsport,
the majority of our work has to be done behind closed doors,
so we wanted to create an event that enables the local community
and motorsport fans to see Lola Cars at close quarters.
“What better setting than our hometown to celebrate
a memorable 50 years in motorsport. It will be a wonderful
occasion to see such a colourful collection of Lola designs
drive through the centre of Huntingdon, whilst reuniting
drivers such as John Surtees with cars they have raced so
many years ago.”
The
town, famed for its Members of Parliament – Oliver
Cromwell during the 16th century and John Major during the
19th – now has the yellow and blue racing colours
of Lola flying the flag for Huntingdon and British motorsport.
For
regular updates on the Lola 50th Anniversary celebration
in Huntingdon you can log onto the official website at www.lolaheritage.co.uk