Lola considering Formula One return in 2010

British race car makers Lola have commenced a major evaluation project aimed at developing a car to compete in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship and could formally lodge an entry within the next few weeks. It follows March’s confirmation of FIA plans to introduce of a ‘cost capping’ option to teams next year.

英國賽車製造商Lola 已經開始評估以打造一台賽車參加2010年的F1大賽的想法，可能會在之後幾個禮拜正式提出申請。將會參考FIA 三月所確定的要於明年引進的車隊預算上限規則。

Lola’s previous Formula One involvement dates from the 1960s through to the late ‘90s and now the Huntingdon-based company is in discussions with a number of parties with a view to designing, manufacturing and developing a new F1 car, subject to final confirmation of the 2010 regulations. 

Lola 先前的參賽史從1960年到90年代，而現在這家公司正從幾個觀點來討論參賽的可能性，從設計、製造、研發一輛新的F1賽車並且符合2010年的技術規章。

“The announcement that Formula One teams may opt for a prudent, financially responsible ‘cost capped’ regime from 2010 has resulted in us deciding to fully evaluate the opportunity to develop a car to compete in the FIA Formula One World Championship,” said Martin Birrane, Executive Chairman of Lola Group.

"先前發布的消息，關於車隊可以選擇遵守更節省、對於財務更有保障的"車隊預算上限"規則，2010年實施的這個計畫讓我們想徹底評估開發一輛賽車參加F1的機會有多大"，Lola 公司執行長 Martin Birrane 表示。

“The current necessity for Formula One to adopt a responsible approach in times of economic uncertainty has created the ideal conditions for us to consider developing a car for the World Championship.”

"F1 現今所提出的車隊預算上限規則降低了參加F1所需的財務壓力，這為我們創造了一個理想條件去研發賽車參加比賽"。

Lola, whose last F1 entry came at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, have appointed new key staff to the project and allocated some of their top engineers to the evaluation. The company already has at its disposal a Formula One standard wind tunnel, latest Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Analysis equipment and a seven-post dynamic chassis rig.

Lola 在F1最後一出現是1997年的澳洲站，他們已經指定了一個專案小組，並且分配了一些頂尖工程師去開發賽車。公司也有一個標準的F1測試風洞，最新的流體力學和有限元素分析設備，還有一個seven-post dynamic chassis rig(恩...七柱動力底盤設備???)。

“Lola possesses the technical resources, capability and know-how to develop cars capable of competing at the very highest levels of international motor sport, including Formula One,” added Birrane. “We are therefore embracing the WMSC’s timely announcements and assessing a relevant programme for F1 with a view to making formal entry in the coming weeks.”

"Lola 擁有科技資源，有能力和技術來研發賽車參加國際上非常高水準的賽車運動、包括F1"，Birrane補充道。"我們有WMSC適時發表的規則，並且正評估相關的程序以在之後幾週提出正式申請"。

In addition to Formula One involvement spanning the 1960’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Lola’s racing heritage includes production of championship-winning and one-make formulae cars for Champ Car in America, Formula Nippon in Japan, Formula 3000, Formula 3 and A1GP in Europe. The company currently produces the race-winning LMP1 and LMP2 sports cars competing in both the Le Mans Endurance Series and American Le Mans Series.

除了在60到90年代參加F1之外，Lola 的參賽傳統還包括在製造商競爭和單一製造商比賽，有美國的Champ Car、日本方程式賽車、歐洲的F3000、F3和 A1GP。現在製作的是LMP1 和 LMP2 參加利曼Endurance系列賽和美國利曼系列賽。