.jpg) The No. 13Speedy Racing Team Sebah B08/80 during the2009 1000 km of Silverstone. | |||||||||
| Category | Le Mans Prototype LMP2 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Lola Cars International | ||||||||
| Designer | Julian Sole | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibremonocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone, push-rod actuated coil springs overdampers | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone, push-rod actuated coil springs overdampers | ||||||||
| Engine | Judd DB 3.4LN/AV8 MazdaMZR-R 2.0LT/CI4 HPD HR28TT 2.8L TurbochargedV6 MazdaSkyActiv 2.2L Turbocharged I4 Dieselmid-engined,longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland/Lola 6-speedsequential manual | ||||||||
| Weight | Appr. 825 kg (1,819 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | BP | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants |  Speedy Racing Team Sebah, Ray Mallock, B-K Motorsport,Dyson Racing, Racing Box Lotus Speedsource Engineering/Mazda | ||||||||
| Debut | 2008 1000 km of Catalunya | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 1 (LMP2) | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (LMP2) | ||||||||
TheLola B08/80 is aLe Mans Prototype built byLola Cars International. It is effectively the LMP2 version of the largerLola B08/60; they are the first closed-cockpitsports prototypes built by Lola since theT92/10 of 1992. The B08/80 is optimised for the smaller engines and lighter weight of the LMP2 category in comparison to the larger and heavier B08/60.
The first chassis of the B08/80 is used by the joint Speedy Racing Team and Sebah Automotive outfits in theLe Mans Series as well as at24 Hours of Le Mans. The team's car uses the latestV8 engine fromJudd. A second car was entered by B-K Motorsports andMazda in theAmerican Le Mans Series, debuting at thePetit Le Mans in October 2008,[1] while a third B08/80 chassis was sold toRay Mallock and completed with parts from the team's former B05/40 to create theMG-Lola EX265C for the Le Mans Series.[2] B-K Motorsports closed shop in late 2008 and sold their car toDyson Racing. 2009 LMS season saw the B08/80 being the 2nd fastest LMP2, behind the Essex Porsche.
Dyson Racing runs two upgraded B09/86s in the2009American Le Mans Series in the LMP2 class. The #20 car enjoyed their first class win in the new Lola/Mazda coupe at theLime Rock Park race.
For2010, Dyson scaled back to one car but was arguably more successful, bringing the Lola B09/86 its first overall pole atLaguna Seca and its first overall win atMid-Ohio.
In the Le Mans Series in Europe, RML won the2010 Le Mans Series LMP2 Teams and Drivers' Championships with their Lola B08/80, highlighted by a LMP2 class win at the2010 1000 km of Algarve.
In the2011 American Le Mans Series season Dyson racing upgraded their B09/86s to LMP1 standard and started the season with the #16 car. The #20 car returned from the2011 Northeast Grand Prix onwards and they scored an overall win at the2011 Baltimore Grand Prix. Even though they never won a race, the #16 car won the ALMS LMP1 championship.
Level 5 Motorsports ran their upgraded B11/80's in the2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup and the2011 24 Hours of Le Mans except forSilverstone andZhuhai. They finished third in LMP2 and tenth overall atLe Mans. Level 5 switched to theHPD ARX-01g for Petit Le Mans and continued with Honda power in 2012.
Until recently, the Lola B12/80 was still common in Le Mans Prototype racing. Gulf Racing ran a pair of B12/80s in the WEC;Dempsey Racing ran a B12/80 in the ALMS; and finally, Black Swan Racing ran the former 2011 Level 5 B11/80.
In the2012 European Le Mans Series season,Status Grand Prix ran an upgraded B12/80, finishing 6th in the teams championship with 15 points. These came from a 3rd place at the2012 6 Hours of Castellet.
By 2013, all teams had retired their Lola B12/80s due to uncertainty over parts support from Lola.
In 2014, Mazda and Speedsource were announced as the newest customers of two Lola LMP2s using theSkyActiv-D engine.
For the2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season,Mazda entered a B08/80 with livery based on that of theMazdaspeed 787B C2 which won the1991 24 Hours of Le Mans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of that victory.
