MG-Lola EX257
The MG Lola EX257 - ( sometimes simply called MG EX257 ) was a Le Mans prototype Lola Cars International for MG produced, circa 2001 to compete in the 24 - hour race at Le Mans. The car had many years of moderate success, even in the hands of private drivers.
He was Lola's a single car that was built by the LMP675 regulations (Le Mans) and it was also referred to as B01/60. The last EX257 in the original design was retired from racing in 2007.
Development
After the resurgence of the MG brand at the beginning of the 21st century, it was decided to re-introduce the brand in motorsport, for example in the European Touring Car Championship and in sports car racing. MG was many decades earlier success in the 24- hour race at Le Mans, but was never able to win the overall title. Around the same time changed the ACO regulations for the Le Mans prototype and introduced two different classes in which now each have a total victory could be won. One of these classes, called LMP675, demanded the use of smaller engines, lighter, more agile vehicles that could compete with the heavier and more powerful vehicles in the LMP900 class.
After you saw at MG a way to get involved with a series based engine in the LMP675 class, rather than having to use a specially built for racing engine in a size that MG never made , management decided, in the new class to engage with the help of Lola Cars International. Lola had two race cars, the B2K/10 and B2K/40 built in 2000, but these did not meet the new LMP675 regulations. Lola therefore had to build a completely new prototype with a lower weight and a smaller engine after - LMP675 regulations. Since the B2K/40 these new rules corresponded more closely, many details of the new car were taken from him, the Lola B01/60 was baptizing. The construction of the front fenders of the B01/60 corresponded almost the B2K/40, but the slightly raised nose of the car was designed very differently and had a large, square air box that was shaped like a MG grille. The side boxes were designed very differently and had flowing lines to improve the aerodynamics inside and outside the car. A large, single air intake was mounted on top of the vehicle slightly to the side of the cockpit and housed the inlet of the turbocharger. As with the Audi R8 was a single roll bar behind the driver, rather than take the entire interior width. Rear of the air guide vane was mounted low on the chassis to increase the achievable speed. Finally, the EX257 was very easy to hit when it was unveiled just a weight of 690 kg ( 675 kg was the regular minimum weight).
To construct a motor, MG turned to Advanced Engine Research (AER ), and for a turbocharger Garrett. The new 2.0-liter engine R4- MG XP20 (AER designation P07 ) used some elements of the MG- series engines and came up with about 500 bhp ( 368 kW), which was throttled by an air restrictor, the ACO could assemble to match different engine concepts.
Modifications
2003 felt the Interport Racing team's performance of the MG machine to be too low for the classes of the American Le Mans Series. The team transplanted a Judd KV675 naturally aspirated V8 engine in the car, replaced the MG XP20. This made removal of the large turbo intake manifold necessary, a manifold has been mounted instead behind the cockpit. This car - which, as he had no MG engine, only Lola was called - had a brief career with some racing success in front of him.
Racing history
The new MG Lola EX257 - performed for the first time in 2001 in the 24- hour race at Le Mans in a competition to where two cars from the MG Sport & Racing Ltd. were reported. The new cars showed their potential and occupied the 14th and 17th overall in the qualification, what were the two best times in the LMP675 class. However, showed themselves in the race soon the problems of LMP675 class: Although they were fast despite their small engines, that these engines were very burdened to and proved to be not as reliable over long distances. After only 30 rounds a gun dropped out because of difficulties in the exhaust system. A few hours later the second car had to retire due to an oil leak, so that MG was eliminated very early on.
In 2002, the EX257 were offered for the first time customers. Two U.S. teams KnightHawk Racing and Intersport Racing took the opportunity ever bought a chassis and put it all season long in the American Le Mans Series a. Improvements to the EX257 enabled greater reliability, which in the 12 Hours of Sebring race was revealed when Intersport won the LMP675 class and finished 7th in the overall standings, while KnightHawk third in LMP675 category was. The rest of the 2002 season was dominated by two EX257 series and could realize further four class wins. KnightHawk gained the victory of the season in the LMP675 category, only one point more than competitor Intersport. At the last four races of the season, a third EX257 participated, who belonged Dyson Racing; He finished fifth in the series, although he did not participate in a handful of races.
At Le Mans, the MG team joined again with her two EX257. Also, their reliability had increased and both cars stayed longer in the race than in the previous year. Transmission problems can be a car after 129 laps fail, but the second car hit well, turned out to the last hours of the race the engine. Even the U.S. KnightHawk team took part in the race, but her car went into the night in flames.
After the MG team had not made it in two years, also to finish the race at Le Mans with a car and the MG Rover Group also had financial problems, they withdrew from racing. Lola but sold the car continues to clients and offered in conjunction with AER and technical support. In the American Le Mans Series Racing KnightHawk gave up, but Dyson Racing took over the vehicle and then set up two EX257. Dyson and Intersport were able to finish all the races as a class winner of the 2003 season. In addition, Dyson won at Infineon Raceway with the EX257 for the first time since the division of the Le Mans Prototype LMP675 an overall victory with a vehicle. Dyson finally emerging as the winner of the season the LMP675 class. Intersport decided before the last championship run, the, the turbocharged MG Motor by Judd to replace Petit Le Mans KV675 V8. The team, technical changes This decision forced on her vehicle (now referred to as B01/60 ) to carry out, but they were successful, as the team won the LMP675 class. Although this was a perfect season for the EX257, there were still problems in Le Mans. A single car from Intersport could not finish the race and fell after only 102 laps with engine failure.
In 2004, the ACO decided to completely rework their Le Mans prototype regulations. It followed that of the three winning prototype classes LMP900, LMP675 and LMPGTP only remained now LMP1 category mentioned left. While the newly created LMP2 should be inferior technically efficient. To continue to show reasonable starting fields were older prototypes compete with adjustments in the following years further. The ACO is now a stocked vehicles LMP675 with aluminum chassis in the LMP2. The remaining prototypes were found in the LMP1 class again, including the EX257 made of carbon. In Europe, the Ray Mallock Ltd. wore. ( RML Group) the name of MG in the new Le Mans Endurance Series. The car hit well in the short season; he could finish all races and achieved its best result a 5th place, which also marked the fifth place in the team - season championship. In America, Dyson Racing continued with his two car while Intersport motorized cars by Judd reported. However, the good results of the previous year could not be repeated, since Dyson was now in the same class as the dominant Audi R8. Although Dyson could win a total victory against the Audi on the Mosport International Raceway, the team only reached the second place in the championship. InterSports vehicle is not provided against modern LMP1 cars the desired performance and could only score in two races. At Le Mans both teams, RML Group and Intersport participated, but again could not the car to finish the race. The carriage of Intersport had an accident while RML had to complain about an engine failure in the last hours of the race.
After the disappointing performance of InterSports B01/60 2005, the car was no longer reported. Thus, it was in the American Le Mans Series, only the Dyson team with two cars and in the European Le Mans Endurance Series, the RML Group. But RML had implemented massive changes to her car after last season. The vehicle was now largely identical with the newly developed Lola B05/40 and was now called MG- Lola EX264. Therefore the car has now been filed in the LMP2 class, while Dyson did not remain modified car in the LMP1 class. Dyson won two of the ten championship races, but could not prevail against the Audi R8 itself. This was Dyson runner-up of the team championship. In Europe, RML could hit better in the LMP2 class, including a victory at the Istanbul Park Circuit. RML was second in the LMP2 team championship behind Chamberlain -Synergy Motorsport. MGs greatest victory but was recorded at Le Mans, where the EX264 in the first race import victory in the LMP2 class. This victory was repeated in the following year (2006). In addition, RML 2007, with the MG Lola EX264 AER also win the LMP2 championship in the European Le Mans Series.
In the 2006 season, Dyson Racing, decided that the old EX257 was no longer competitive, and bought new Lola B06/10. The two EX257 Dyson sold to two teams, Hycroft Racing and Autocon Motorsports who participated to a limited extent in the American Le Mans Series. Highcroft achieved the best result of the season with a 3rd place in the overall standings of the Petit Le Mans. 2007, the end of the EX257 was in sight. The last original vehicle was at the beginning of the season for Autocon Motorsports in the American Le Mans Series in use. After the third race in Long Beach but the team decided for a new Creation CA06 / H.
Suspensions
This is a list of the owners of each of the EX257 or B01/60-Chassis. No. HU -01 from Intersport and No. HU -03 of RML were modified for the installation of a Judd V8. No. HU -05 was planned, but was never built.