Page 1 of 1 A change in the regulations prompted Lola to develop an evolution of the company's LMP1 car for the 2012 season. The most profound rule change was the now mandatory fin on the engine cover that was intended to prevent rolling when reaching extreme angles during a crash. The revisions in the LMP1 car's aerodynamics required by the implementations of the fin also inspired the Lola engineers to carry through further changes that made the new B12/60 very distinct from its predecessors.
Following the latest aerodynamics trend, the B12/60 featured very upright and bulbous headlights that were a clear departure from the earlier Lola designs. They were intended to create a better airflow around the very wide front tyres. The minimum size and location of the fin was pre-determined by the regulations but the Julian Sole led team made the most if by using the trailing edge of the fin as the mount for the rear wing. Underneath the revised bodywork, the B12/60 was a wholly conventional LMP1 car that was virtually identical to the model it replaced.
Lola had just two customers for the new car; Rebellion Racing in Europe and Dyson Racing in the United States. The former fitted their cars with a Toyota supplied, naturally aspirated V8 while Dyson used a Mazda-badged turbo-charged four cylinder engine. Dyson Racing acquired two brand new chassis, while Rebellion opted to update their existing cars, which used chassis the team had been racing since 2009 and 2010 respectively. The second Dyson B12/60 did not debut until the 2013 ALMS season.
Faced with strong competition from the factory Audi, Toyota and later Porsche teams, the Rebellion Racing cars were usually engulfed in the best of the rest fight, and with considerable success. Starting from the back of the grid, the Mazda engined Dyson Racing car took the B12/60's first outright victory at the 2012 Road America race. There was more success later in the year when Rebellion Racing won Petit Le Mans. They won the race again the following year.
Unfortunately, Lola Cars had already folded by that time; the company officially went bankrupt late in 2012. Some of the assets were acquired by Multimatic, who continued to provide support for Dyson and Rebellion to continue racing their existing car in 2013. With back-to-back Petit Le Mans victories, the B12/60 was a particularly successful swan-song for the famous British racing car constructor. Page 1 of 1
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A change in the regulations prompted Lola to develop an evolution of the company's LMP1 car for the 2012 season. The most profound rule change was the now mandatory fin on the engine cover that was intended to prevent rolling when reaching extreme angles during a crash. The revisions in the LMP1 car's aerodynamics required by the implementations of the fin also inspired the Lola engineers to carry through further changes that made the new B12/60 very distinct from its predecessors.