- Lola T70S focuses on sustainability.
- It uses “natural fiber” bodywork instead of carbon fiber.
- F1 winner Johnny Herbert says it’s tuned to feel like a real T70.
Lola is one of the most iconic names in motorsport history. As a small British chassis builder, its cars have won some of the world’s biggest sports car races, and its chassis have been the winning backbone for major automakers seeking victory at Le Mans, Daytona, and Indianapolis. Even with that pedigree, Lola struggled to survive, experiencing bankruptcy in 2012 until its revival in 2022. Now it is back making cars, starting with the Lola T70S.
It’s a revival of the iconic old sports racer, but with new parts, which we’ve covered before. But in the latest video released by Lola, and hosted by three-time F1 winner Johnny Herbert, we have more details about its construction. Folks, the word of the day for the T70S is “sustainability.”
In its heyday, Lola was known as a composite specialist who innovated in using carbon fiber for racing. The T70S continues this fine tradition with what Herbert describes as “natural” fibers making up the bodywork. The original T70 used fiberglass, but this natural fiber, which looks dark and contains carbon, is lighter and stronger than that.
It is likely that replacement fibers were used instead of carbon, as carbon can be messy and difficult to recycle. Even the coating used to protect the wheels and suspension posts is made from “sea salt residue” to help protect the magnesium parts from harsh weather.
We can also catch a glimpse of the differences between the T70 and T70S, which look almost the same except for the interior. The T70S will have two variants: road car and track car. The one on display looks like a road car, because the interior is covered in lots of suede and luxury materials. However, with no information regarding price or availability, it’s hard to say much about the T70S other than “it’s pretty cool.”
Motorcycle Pickup1: Herbert says the T70S is true to the original in terms of feel and appearance. For that, we just need to obey his words.
