Lola-Mazda B12/60 triumphs again in Masters Endurance Legends, securing its sixth win in the series
In what might be a final hurrah for the Lola-Mazda B12/60 within current ownership (view sales listing here), the ex-Dyson Racing LMP1 machine proved yet again the car to beat on Saturday, with a phenomenal performance during round seven of the Masters Endurance Legends series.
The packed, thirty car grid of iconic sports racers included three Peugeot 908s, a Porsche RS Spyder, two Dallara Judd SP1s, a Pescarolo-Judd to name but a few and clearly met with the approval of the enormous audience gathered for the Silverstone Classic.
Starting from the front row of the grid in what was the meeting’s first truly dry weather race, Rob Wheldon scythed past the pole-sitting Porsche RS Spyer of former factory Porsche driver, Emmanuel Collard, to take a lead that he would hold until the pitstops.
Among the elite drivers required to remain stationary in pit lane for an extended period, the Briton emerged far behind new race leader, Francois Perrodo in his spectacular Peugeot 908. But a series of fastest laps - including an astonishing 1m45.277s that became the fastest lap ever recorded at a Silverstone Classic event - reeled the Frenchman in to within firing range with just five minutes remaining on the clock.
A brave move into Becketts saw the Lola swiftly dispense the Peugeot, which briefly fought back along the Hanger Straight before Wheldon completed the pass once and for all into Club. The move secured another superb Masters Endurance Legends victory for chassis HU02 - its sixth to date in the series.
“The Lola was way too fast for me but I really enjoyed the race, it’s a great event.”
Speaking after the race, Perrodo exclaimed that the Lola was, “way too fast for me!” while Wheldon remarked that the Lola was, “simply phenomenal to drive” and expressed his thanks to Peter Chambers Automotive for the car’s preparation.
The European arm of the series now enters a brief summer break before resuming at Spa in October. Meanwhile the Masters Endurance Legends USA fires back into life with with two consecutive meetings at Laguna Seca book-ending the fabulous Pebble Beach Speed Week.
images: Jakob Ebrey