THE LOLA T87/30
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
The T87/30 in a less than salubrious area the Lola factory.
The F1 T87/30 was commissioned by the Larrousse Calmels team and was Lola's first Formula 1 design since 1975's T371 and only the seventh in their thirty-one-year history*.
By 1987 the Grand Prix scene was being dominated by the turbo-charged cars but there were still a few teams that were unable to source and/or finance these 1000 BHP+ engines and were still relying on the good old Ford V8, now in 3.5 litre DFZ form and producing some 575 BHP. Given that the normally aspirated cars were often 6 or 7 seconds a lap slower than the turbos, especially in qualifying when the turbos could be turned up, the FIA, to encourage the normally aspirated teams Lola, Tyrrell, AGS, March and Coloni, introduced the Jim Clark Trophy for the Ford-powered teams that would score points on the usual 9-6-4-3-2-1 basis.
The design, by Ralph Bellamy and Eric Broadley, of the T87/30 (entered in F1 races as the LC87) was, not surprisingly for a customer car, conventional for the time. It featured a carbon fibre monocoque with aluminium honeycomb composite used in the floor and internal bulkheads. The front suspension comprised unequal length wishbones and inboard spring/damper units operated by pushrods. At the rear, the Ford engine was a stressed member with the suspension of unequal length wishbones, track control links and inboard pushrod operated spring/damper units attaching to the Hewland FGB gearbox and cast magnesium bellhousing. Driver adjustable anti-roll bars were fitted front and rear.
The T87/30 missed the Brazilian GP, the opening round of the 1987 F1 season but from then on proved very competitive in the Jim Clark Trophy, the single car, for the first thirteen races, battling with the Tyrrell 016 pair of Jonathan Palmer and Philippe Streiff. Unfortunately, nine retirements in fifteen races meant he finished the season in third place in the Jim Clark Trophy, three sixth places overall saw the Larousse Calmels team finish ninth (out of sixteen teams) in the World Constructors Championship.
*The 1985/86 Carl Haas entered Beatrice sponsored F1 cars were badged as Lolas but had almost no connection with the company other than Eric Broadley was credited as being Chief Engineer for the team. Both the THL1 and THL2 models were designed and constructed by the Haas-owned FORCE company.
Year(s) of Construction: 1987
Total Built: 3
The Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5 V8 installation in the T87/30.
T87/30 FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX RECORD
1987
DATE |
RACE |
DRIVER |
RESULT |
RACE CHASSIS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12th April | Brazilian Grand Prix- Jacarepaguá | Did Not Enter | - | - |
| 3rd May | San Marino Grand Prix - Imola | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 23rd Race - 10th (2nd Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/01 |
| 17th May | Belgian Grand Prix - Spa-Francorchamps | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 22nd Race - 8th (1st Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/01 |
| 31st May | Monaco Grand Prix - Monaco | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 18th Race - DNF (Engine) |
LC87/01 |
| 21st June | Detroit Grand Prix - Detroit | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 20th Race - DNF (Accident) |
LC87/02 |
| 5th July | French Grand Prix - Paul Ricard | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 23rd Race - DNF (Gearbox) |
LC87/02 |
| 12th July | British Grand Prix - Silverstone | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 21st Race - DNF (Gearbox) |
LC87/02 |
| 26th July | German Grand Prix - Hockenheimring | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 21st Race - 6th (3rd Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/03 |
| 9th August | Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 15th Race - DNF (Accident) |
LC87/03 |
| 16th August | Austrian Grand Prix - Österreichring | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 22nd Race - 12th (2nd Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/02 |
| 6th September | Italian Grand Prix - Monza | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 23rd Race - DNF (Spun off) |
LC87/02 |
| 20th September | Portuguese Grand Prix - Estoril | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 19th Race - DNF (Engine) |
LC87/02 |
| 27th September | Spanish Grand Prix - Jerez | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 17th Race - 6th (1st Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/02 |
| 18th October | Mexican Grand Prix - Hermanos Rodríguez | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 24th Race - 6th (1st Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/03 |
| 18th October | Mexican Grand Prix - Hermanos Rodríguez | Yannick Dalmas | Qualified - 23rd Race - 9th (4th Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/02 |
| 1st November | Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 19th Race - DNF (Accident) |
LC87/03 |
| 1st November | Japanese Grand Prix - Suzuka | Yannick Dalmas | Qualified - 23rd Race - 14th (3rd Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/02 |
| 15th November | Australian Grand Prix - Adelaide | Philippe Alliot | Qualified - 17th Race - DNF (Electrical) |
LC87/03 |
| 15th November | Australian Grand Prix - Adelaide | Yannick Dalmas | Qualified - 21st Race - 5th (2nd Jim Clark Trophy) |
LC87/02 |
The double wishbone and pushrod rear suspension.
Philippe Alliot winds on the lock.
Gérard Larrousse, Yannick Dalmas, Philippe Alliot and Didier Calmels pose with the T87/30.
