2001 Lola B2K40

The Lola B2K/40 was designed to compete in the SR2 class of the Sports Racing World Cup and Grand American Road Racing Championship, but would later be used into the 'LMP675' and raced in the very competitive LeMans Series. The LMP675 race at the 24 Hours of LeMans and was used in the American LeMans Series.

The Lola B2K/40 was similar to its predecessor, the B2K/10, but was lighter, smaller, and less expensive. They shared many of the same components though the B2K/40 had a 'simpler' design and visual differences existed between the two. The B2K/40 had a flatter nose while the B2K/40 was raised in-order to accommodate the foot-box. The fenders of the B2K/10 were rounder while the B2K/40 were more wedge-shaped. There was a single air intake mounted just below the roll-bar, and used to cool the engine. The engine was a production-based V6 unit that complied with SR2 class rules. It was a modified version of the Nissan VQ 3.0-liter V6. There were a total of sixteen examples of the B2K/40 constructed, and several different engines have been mounted in the racecars mid-ship engine bay. Examples include a Judd V8, a Porsche Flat-6, a Mazda turbocharged 2-rotor, and a turbocharged (and modified) Ford four-cylinder unit.

The Lola B2K/40 was later replaced in 2005 by the B05/40 with its final year of major competition ending in 2006.

Archangel scored four class wins in the USRRC series and Snow/Schumacher scored one. Archangel would end the SR2 season as class champion.

In the ALMS series, the Snow/Schumacher team scored the best finish for the B2K/40 with an 11th place finish in the Petit LeMans. SportsRacing Team Sweden won once in the final round of the Sports Racing World Cup.

Since the Lola B2K/40 had been introduced mid-season, not many teams were willing to take the chance on the new machine. That all changed for 2001, when the number of B2K/40s entrants nearly doubled. Snow/Schumacher, Archangel, and TRP returned again to the USRRC and were flanked by other Lola B2K/40's owned by Northstar Racing, Porschehaus Racing, Multimatic Motorsports and Rand Racing. For the ALMS, Roock-KnightHawk Racing was the only regular in the LMP675 class. The Sports Racing World Cup, which had been renamed to the FIA Sportscar Championship, was home to the sole Lola entrant run by Sport Racing Team Sweden.

The B2K/40 had another impressive year for 2001, winning nine class victories with six of those earned by Archangel. Two victories were won by the Porschehaus team and one for Rand Racing. SportsRacing Team Sweden took four class victories and the SR2 Championship. In ALMS, KnightHawk was unable to score a single win, though they did take second int he LMP675 championship.

KnightHawk contested the 24 Hours of Lemans in 2001 but they failed to make the full 24 hours.
Rand Racing-Risi Competizione was the only consistent competitors in the USRRC for the 2002 season. They scored nine wins and won the championship. Porschehaus and Archangel Motorsports did not race the entire season, making only a few appearances. Archangel Motorsports moved to ALMS where they were joined by Spencer Motorsports, Essex Racing, and Kyser Racing. Archangel won two class victories and finished third in the LMP675 championship. SportsRacing Team Sweden closed the season in third int he championship without a single victory.

New regulations in the SR2 class was uncompetitive as the Grand American Road Racing Association began the move towards the Daytona Prototype class. The number of SR2 teams that participated was small and they only raced in a select number or aces.

2004 was the end of the SR2 class in the USRRC, and the cancellation of the FIA Sportscar Championship. This left the ALMS and the new LeMans Endurance Series as the only arena for the B2K/40. Miracle Motorsports, Intersport Racing, Marshall Cooke Race Car Company, and Van der Steur Racing all used Lola chassis in the ALMS for the 2004 season. Rand Racing used a Lola chassis at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The Lola B2K/40s were competitive in 2004 in the ALMS, winning eight raced in the LMp2 class. Intersport would account for six of those victories and three for Miracle. Miracle would win the championship, aided by their other car, a Courage C65.

Tracsport was the sole Lola competitor in the LeMans Endurance Series for 2004. Their best finish was a third-in-class; they would finish the season third in the championship. Intersport Racing competed at the 24 Hours of LeMans and scored a class victory. They were one of only two LMP2 class competitors to finish the race.

Rule changes in 2005 for both the 24 Hours of LeMans and the LeMans Endurance Series would make the car obsolete. The B05/40 served as the replacement as it conformed to the new rules. The B2K/40 was still able to run in the ALMS. Van der Steur Racing was the only consistent competitor in the ALMS. BAT Competition raced a few select races. Intersport raced the B2K/40 chassis for the first few races of the season, replacing it with the B05/40 after the 12 Hours of Sebring.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2008