Lola Cars, a venerable name in motorsport success since 1958, has produced a lineage of victorious competition vehicles across various classes. Holding the distinction of being Great Britain’s oldest continually operational race car manufacturer, Lola’s prowess is evident in the diverse range of cars that have found homes with customers rather than being campaigned by the company itself.
While not among the most famous Lola models, the T92/10 stands out as one of the most technologically advanced within the context of its production era.
In the lead-up to the T92/10’s debut, Group C racing resembled Group B in rallying, featuring a relatively relaxed ruleset. To maintain competitiveness, regulations enforcing minimum weight and maximum fuel consumption per 100km were introduced, resulting in a diverse grid featuring V8s, V12s, turbo V8s, and flat sixes all competing for podium positions.
As the 1990 season approached, the plan was to gradually introduce a second generation of Group C cars powered by naturally aspirated 3.5L engines, adhering to a minimum weight of 750kg (1,653lb).
Prepared for the 1992 season, Lola developed the T92/10 with the vision of offering it as a turnkey package to prospective customers, simplifying the process compared to traditional sourcing from multiple suppliers or running full factory-backed efforts.
Crafted by Weit Huidekoper, the T92/10 represented a departure from Lola’s previous Nissan Group C design, driven by rule changes for chassis and cockpit dimensions. Extensive wind tunnel testing resulted in an aerodynamically efficient car, generating substantial downforce with minimal drag, thanks to its ground-effect underbody.
The inboard-mounted springs and dampers, connected via pushrods, were directly fastened to the carbon chassis. The rear suspension, connected directly to the engine and gearbox, acted as fully stressed members.
The Formula 1 influence continued with the T92/10’s engine—a Judd V10. Emitting a high-pitched wail that resonated with a symphonic quality, this powerhouse, producing 650 horsepower from a 3.5L capacity, earned the T92/10 the reputation of being one of the loudest cars to grace the tracks at Le Mans.
Only three T92/10s were manufactured, and the first two had only a single season before the dissolution of the World Sportscar Championship for Group C. Acquired by Charles Zwolsman and raced under the Euro Racing banner, these cars faced limited success on the track. Unfortunately, the team’s operations came to an abrupt halt when Zwolsman’s involvement in the illegal drug trade was exposed, marking an unceremonious end to the T92/10’s racing journey.
