Lola rebuilds Formula E operation ahead of Gen4 debut after ending ABT partnership

Lola is entering the Gen4 era with a completely new Formula E race operation. After ending its collaboration with ABT, the British manufacturer is taking control of the team itself, while reshaping its personnel structure and continuing work on the reliability of its new Gen4 package.

For Lola, Gen4 effectively marks a second Formula E debut. Over the past two seasons, the British manufacturer developed the powertrain together with Yamaha, while ABT Sportsline was responsible for the operational running of the team at the track. From Season 13 onwards, Lola will take over that part itself. Yamaha remains on board as technical partner for the powertrain.

The transition is also accompanied by several personnel changes within Lola. Most of them, however, do not directly affect the sporting operation. Commercial Director Keith Smout has left the company, while Chief Financial Officer Michaela Watts is also expected to depart, according to FE Notebook. More directly relevant to the race organisation is the departure of Team and Operations Manager David Clarke.

Frederic Espinos had already left the squad beforehand. He had still been part of the previous race structure shaped by ABT. Gerry Hughes will now take on a key role in the rebuild.

Hughes takes operational lead of new Lola team

As Deputy Team Principal, Hughes will be responsible for all operational and sporting matters and will run the day-to-day activities of the new Lola Formula E Team. Mark Preston remains Team Principal. For Hughes, the move also marks a return to Lola: among other roles, he served as Head of F1 Engineering for the company in 2009. In Formula E, he previously led the former NIO team.

Hughes therefore has a central role in establishing the new race structure. Unlike in the past two seasons, Lola can no longer rely on ABT's existing operational framework and must organise engineering, race operations and logistical processes largely on its own. Yamaha accordingly describes the Season 13 organisation as a completely renewed team structure.

The personnel changes underline how extensively Lola is reorganising ahead of the start of Gen4. From a sporting perspective, the key question is how quickly the new race crew under Hughes can gel.

Lola still working on Gen4 reliability ahead of Jarama

At the end of August, Dan Ticktum drove the Gen4 development car during a two-day test in Guadix. According to FE Notebook, the package showed promising pace, although reliability issues also occurred.

At the beginning of September, Lola then continued its work on AVL's dynamic test bench in Graz. Further private testing in Spain was also planned. Ahead of Jarama, the focus is therefore likely to be less on outright speed and more on reliability and set-up work.

Lola does not have much time left. From 16 to 20 November, the newly assembled team will face the entire Gen4 field for the first time during the official pre-season test at Circuito del Jarama. By then, not only does the car need to run reliably. The newly built race crew must also prove itself for the first time as an independent Lola Formula E Team within the full Gen4 field.