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LOLA SPORTSCARS HUNT MONZA 1000kms GLORY

Seven Lola LMP sportscars will head to the world famous Autodromo Di Monza near Milan this weekend for the traditional spring date of the Monza 1000kms and the second round of the 2008 Le Mans Series.

Lola customers scored exceptional debut results for the all-new LMP1 and LMP2 Coupes at Barcelona earlier this month. Both the Charouz Racing System Lola LMP1 Coupe(pictured right)  and the Speedy Racing Team Sebah

LMP2 entries will be looking to further develop its racing programme this weekend at the low downforce spec 3.6 mile Italian track.

Jan Charouz, who shares the Aston Martin powered Lola B08/60 LMP1 car with team mate Stefan Mucke is looking forward to the race this weekend and said: “I like Monza a lot. It was very exciting when I drove there with Stefan last year. It was the first race of the season and we were the quickest petrol car. We should aim for at least the same result again this year.”

The LMP2 Lola Coupe of Speedy Racing Team Sebah were delighted with its second place in Spain in the Judd powered Lola B08/80 Huntingdon built sportscar. The team, managed by Hugh and Bart Hayden, has had minimal testing ahead of the season but that did not stop them out racing two of the three Porsche entered cars at Barcelona. They are confident that more stellar results with the Lola-Judd will come this weekend when Xavier Pompidou, Andrea Belicchi and Steve Zacchia take to the wheel at Monza.

Italian driver Andrea Belicchi, who will drive in his home race this weekend, said: “I am very happy and proud to drive a prototype like the Lola B0/80 on a legendary circuit like Monza. For me it means a lot, Monza is an unmissable venue for an Italian driver. I hope that we will be able to produce a great result there in front of the fans.”

Chamberlain Synergy’s Lola B07/10-AER will miss the Monza event but are scheduled to return to the series at Spa next month.

RML scored valuable points with 4th place at Barcelona three weeks ago, and the reigning champions are hoping to score more points and defend their title at the scenic Parco Nazionale this weekend.

Prior to the Italian event Mike Newton and Tommy Erdos have been testing at Silverstone to further develop the MG-AER power unit. The turbo powered engine will truly show its hand on the flat out straights of Monza.

Quifel-ASM (pictured left) proved that they are still among the quickest LMP2 entries with some blistering practice and qualifying pace in the opening round at Barcelona. The Antonio Simoes led Portuguese team failed to score in the first round after technical problems but the Dunlop shod car in the hands of former GP2 racer Olivier Pla has the capability to run at the front of the LMP2 pack.

The Kruse-Schiller Lola-Mazda entered car, driven by Hideki Noda and Jean De Pourtales, undertook its first race at Barcelona and despite a complete lack of testing showed that in the coming races they could challenge at the front of the LMP2 field.

"The Lola is great to drive and the Mazda engine is really strong,” said De Pourtales. “Last year I scored a 5th place in Monza, it would be great to match or better that result."

The Monza 1000kms starts at 11.50BST on Sunday 27th April with qualifying taking place on Saturday 26th. The majority of the race will be shown live on Motors TV.

Lola notes of interest

• In 1969 Frank Gardner and Andrea De Adamich finished 5th overall in a Lola T70 MkIIB. Entered by Sid Taylor Racing the car was involved in a controversial last lap collision with the Alpine Renault of future Grand Prix winner Patrick Depailler. The hapless Depailler was lucky to walk away un-injured after his car overturned at the 2nd Lesmo corner. Gardner went on to take the flag unscathed! In 2008 Lola are building a limited edition of Lola T70’s to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

• In the 1972 Monza 1000kms Reine Wisell and Jo Bonnier qualified a Lola T280 an incredible 4th mixing it with the works Ferrari 312PB’s and Porsche 908’s. • 1975 saw Alan Jones drive a Lola T294. In the same race Vittorio Brambilla qualified a stunning 5th overall in the 2-litre Lola T282, sharing with future Alfa Romeo boss Giorgio Pianta.

• In 1980 Alain De Cadenet and Desire Wilson took an unexpected win in the De Cadenet Lola beating the likes of Jurgen Barth and Henri Pescrolo in their Kremer Porsche 935K.

• Monza has seen many debuts by new Lola sportscars. In 1981 the T600 Group C car was unveiled at Monza. It was driven by Guy Edwards and Emilio De Villota. In 1992 the stunning T92/10 hit the track for the first time with Cor Euser and Charles Zwolsman driving for the EuroRacing team.

• 1999 saw the first of the Martin Birrane era Lola sportscars take pole on its debut race. The B98/10 run by the French DAMS team led for 20 minutes with Jean Marc Gounon and Eric Bernard driving.

• Recent Lola victories at the Monza 1000kms include Thed Bjork and Larry Oberto’s SR2 win with the Lola B2K/40 in 2001 and last year when Eric Van De Poele/Fredy Lienhard and Didier Theys took their Horag Racing B05/40 to an LMP2 victory.

Monza Stats

• Built in 1922 by the Milan Automobile Club

• First race was on 10 September 1922

• 4.25 mile high speed oval built in 1955. 1957 and 1958 Monzapolis races run for USAC and F1 cars

• Last event held on banking was the 1969 Monza 1000 kms which was won by Jo Siffert and Brian Redman in a works Porsche 908. The fastest lap was set by Pedro Rodriguez in a Ferrari 312P at an average speed of 134mph

2007 pole position:

LMP1:Nicolas Minassian, Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP 1m34.503s

LMP2: Angel Burgueno, Lola B05/40 AER, 1m39.271s

2007 fastest race lap

LMP1: Lamy/Sarrazin, Peugeot 908 Hdi FAP, 1m36.500

LMP2: Erdos/Newton, RML Lola-MG, 1m42.268

2007 race time: 1000kms in 4h59m20.735s