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Le Mans / ALMS
ALMS: Dyson, Dempsey Coping With Lola Situation
Both teams anticipate completing season with current Lola prototypes, despite struggle for spares...
Dempsey Racing debuted its Lola B12/80 Judd at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May but, like the majority of Lola customer teams, face a dwindling supply of spare parts. (Photo: John Dagys)
Despite the future of Lola Cars being in jeopardy, both Dyson Racing and Dempsey Racing, the two remaining teams competing with Lola prototypes in the American Le Mans Series, are confident they’ll get through the remainder of the season with their current machinery.
The British constructor, which had been battling financial woes, went into administration (the UK equivalent of bankruptcy) in May. It resulted in mass layoffs for both Lola Cars International and Lola Composites, a sister company that serves the defense and aerospace industries.
With Lola now under the control of administrators Mark Newman and James Snowdon, of CCW Recovery Solutions, and are seeking a buyer, teams have been faced with a dwindling spare parts supply and uncertainty over the future.
“Spares is a real challenge with us,” Dempsey Racing team principal Joe Foster told SPEED.com. “Although internally, we had some idea of what was coming down the pipe, spares are definitely a challenge. Lola is still going through various stages of receivership and administration in England. We honestly don't know how it's all going to end up.”
Dempsey Racing debuted its Lola B12/80 Judd at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May. It was one of the final chassis to leave Lola’s Huntingdon, England workshop prior to the administrators taking over and locking down the remaining inventory.
Having had to borrow parts from Dyson, Level 5 Motorsports and Black Swan Racing just to make its first race, the team faces a similar situation again this weekend at Lime Rock, as the supply of spares has not improved.
In fact, Black Swan, which ran a Lola B11/80 Honda leased from Level 5 at Sebring and Long Beach, has since withdrawn from P2 competition, becoming the first causality directly linked to Lola’s administration.
The availability of parts has also had a direct effect on Dyson Racing’s potential expansion, as team VP and sporting director Chris Dyson has essentially ruled out running a third Lola-Mazda later this year in order to preserve spares for its P1 contenders.
"At this point, it looks pretty unlikely,” Dyson said of entering a third car this year. “I think it really comes down to the Lola situation for us. We're very mindful of our inventory right now. I think it's more likely than not that we'll be confined to two cars for the second half.”
Dyson would not comment on the amount of spares they currently have, only stating the situation has “been a headache, but we’re managing.”
For Dempsey Racing, their short-term plans have remained unchanged, with the full commitment to its cost capped Lola coupe for the rest of the year as the team continues to gain experience in the P2 ranks.
“Right now, given our situation, that we need Patrick in a car with a roof, it's the only choice,” Foster said. “We'll stick with it and keep learning and see whether or not it's the best car. I think all have a pretty clear understanding, from an engineering perspective, which cars in the class are better.
“But honestly, where we're at as a team, it doesn't matter right now. Because really the most important thing for us is just to learn how to operate at this level correctly and do a proper job. We can learn how to do a proper job with that car, or any other car, really. “
The British constructor, which had been battling financial woes, went into administration (the UK equivalent of bankruptcy) in May. It resulted in mass layoffs for both Lola Cars International and Lola Composites, a sister company that serves the defense and aerospace industries.
With Lola now under the control of administrators Mark Newman and James Snowdon, of CCW Recovery Solutions, and are seeking a buyer, teams have been faced with a dwindling spare parts supply and uncertainty over the future.
“Spares is a real challenge with us,” Dempsey Racing team principal Joe Foster told SPEED.com. “Although internally, we had some idea of what was coming down the pipe, spares are definitely a challenge. Lola is still going through various stages of receivership and administration in England. We honestly don't know how it's all going to end up.”
Dempsey Racing debuted its Lola B12/80 Judd at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in May. It was one of the final chassis to leave Lola’s Huntingdon, England workshop prior to the administrators taking over and locking down the remaining inventory.
Having had to borrow parts from Dyson, Level 5 Motorsports and Black Swan Racing just to make its first race, the team faces a similar situation again this weekend at Lime Rock, as the supply of spares has not improved.
In fact, Black Swan, which ran a Lola B11/80 Honda leased from Level 5 at Sebring and Long Beach, has since withdrawn from P2 competition, becoming the first causality directly linked to Lola’s administration.
The availability of parts has also had a direct effect on Dyson Racing’s potential expansion, as team VP and sporting director Chris Dyson has essentially ruled out running a third Lola-Mazda later this year in order to preserve spares for its P1 contenders.
"At this point, it looks pretty unlikely,” Dyson said of entering a third car this year. “I think it really comes down to the Lola situation for us. We're very mindful of our inventory right now. I think it's more likely than not that we'll be confined to two cars for the second half.”
Dyson would not comment on the amount of spares they currently have, only stating the situation has “been a headache, but we’re managing.”
For Dempsey Racing, their short-term plans have remained unchanged, with the full commitment to its cost capped Lola coupe for the rest of the year as the team continues to gain experience in the P2 ranks.
“Right now, given our situation, that we need Patrick in a car with a roof, it's the only choice,” Foster said. “We'll stick with it and keep learning and see whether or not it's the best car. I think all have a pretty clear understanding, from an engineering perspective, which cars in the class are better.
“But honestly, where we're at as a team, it doesn't matter right now. Because really the most important thing for us is just to learn how to operate at this level correctly and do a proper job. We can learn how to do a proper job with that car, or any other car, really. “
Monterey
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