Lola Mk6 returns to racing after two decades

The Lola Mk6 GT car that was the development base for the Ford GT40 has returned to racing this year after an absence of 20 years. Paul Haywood-Halfpenny has acquired the rare car, bearing chassis number one, and is tackling a selection of races in the machine David Hobbs and Richard Attwood raced at Le Mans in 1963.

At Le Mans it ran as high as fourth before retiring in the 15th hour, after which it was used as a platform for the GT40. Ford gave the car to Alf Francis, who took it to Italy and then to America where it raced until 1980.

It later acquired a GT40 body, but since he got the car in late 2000, Halfpenny has had it restored to original condition by Barry Hodson.

It is one of only three complete Mk6s, one of which was never raced and remains in Vancouver. The other car is in the Rosso Bianco museum in Frankfurt.