BROADLEY AND BIRRANE REMEMBERED
Despite Lola’s uncanny ability to win in almost every series for which it designed a car, in recent years it hasn’t received the same recognition as the likes of Brabham or Lotus. The fanfare around the manufacturer’s 60th anniversary therefore felt apt.
A 10-car ensemble formed at Goodwood, spanning success across the USA, sportscars and single-seaters. Triple F1 champion Jackie Stewart reacquainted himself with the cockpit of the T90 in which he should have won the Indianapolis 500 at his first attempt in 1966 had it not been for a loss of oil pressure in the final laps. That said, Graham Hill passed in the sister car to collect Lola’s first Indy 500 win.
Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason lent the T297 in which he made his Le Mans debut in ’79 and Honda sent a small army of mechanics to run the Lola-developed 1968 RA301 F1 car. Lola’s first car, the Mk1, was on hand too.
But the celebrations were particularly poignant because the display had been put together by company boss Martin Birrane before he passed away in early June. So it fell to his right-hand man Howard Dawson to join Derek Bell in officially marking the anniversary.
Bell, who raced a Lola Formula 5000 car during founder Eric Broadley’s tenure as boss, told Autosport: “They designed the best sportscars out there.
“[The tribute] was fabulous because Martin [Birrane] was a really charming bloke. He was obviously a clever man and I’m always in awe of these people who can do different things
“What Eric did and what Martin did was special.”