Official: Lola Cars to join Formula E as a manufacturer in 2025 with technical partner Yamaha

Lola Cars and Yamaha are joining Formula E. The electric series officially confirmed this early Thursday morning. As we reported last week , the British chassis manufacturer will develop its own powertrain as a registered Formula E manufacturer in the upcoming eleventh season in 2024/25 - possibly for ABT Cupra. A Lola-Yamaha team of its own is apparently not yet planned.

The official announcement does not say much: Lola will develop its own powertrain together with technology partner Yamaha and will be on the grid next season with the Gen3.5 car upgrade. Lola is apparently not filling the twelfth (free) team slot - at least there has been no mention of this so far. Instead, the British-Japanese alliance is likely to supply the German ABT team with power units. Following the termination with Mahindra, the team from Kempten is currently the only one without a manufacturer from 2025.

Lola Motorsport boss Mark Preston - once team principal of the Techeetah Formula E team - is likely to spearhead the project. The Australian explains: "We are thrilled to confirm our entry in Formula E. For us, this is more than just an opportunity to return Lola to the track, it’s also a fantastic platform for technological development. This project will allow us to create a unique electrified platform."

For him, the centrepiece of the development is the software with which Lola intends to pursue further plans in motorsport in the future. "The partnership is the first of several major projects planned to re-establish the British company as an industry leader in sustainable engineering and motorsport, strategically focusing on three areas of electrification, hydrogen and sustainable fuels and materials."

Lola's long history of success in motorsport has so far been limited to the areas of chassis and aerodynamics. Founded in 1958 by Eric Broadly, the brand has since developed and produced almost 5,000 racing cars in 400 different model types. Lola has raced in Le Mans, the IndyCar, Formula 1, Can-Am, Formula 3000, Formula 5000, A1GP, Formula Ford and touring car series, among others. Formula E enables Lola to return to global motorsport after a long absence.

Yamaha wants to acquire energy management technologies

The partnership with Lola also marks a comeback to international motorsport for Yamaha, after the Japanese company was last active in Formula 1 in 1997. "Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability," says Heiji Maruyama, Executive Chairman and Director at Yamaha.

"As the technical partner, we hope to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through the highest level of electric racing in Formula E. We also share Lola's new philosophy of sustainable motorsport and we are very pleased and honored to form this partnership with them," says Maruyama.

Since the acquisition of Lola Cars in 2022 by Till Bechtolsheimer, the brand has repositioned itself at its new headquarters in Silverstone (UK). "We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the Yamaha Motor Company as we enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship," says Bechtolsheimer. "To be selected by one of the most innovative OEMs in the world to partner on a project of this significance is a testament to the caliber of the team that we have been building at Lola."