Lola B06/10

LMP1 successor to the B2K/10 and MG-Lola EX257.

ArtBrom · CC BY-SA 2.0

The Lola B06/10 is a Le Mans Prototype built by Lola Cars International for the LMP1 category. It competed in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Introduced in 2006, it replaced both the Lola B2K/10 and the MG-Lola EX257. The car shared many mechanical parts and design features with the Lola B05/40, an LMP2 car from the previous year.

Because the new LMP1 and LMP2 regulations were similar, Lola could base the B06/10 on its existing B05/40. The design evolved from the MG-Lola EX257 but was scaled up to accommodate larger engines than LMP2 allowed. This meant bigger cooling systems, improved air management, and the ability to fit larger engines and turbochargers.

The nose of the B06/10 looks nearly identical to the B05/40, but the brake ducts are larger, sitting between the fenders and the raised nose. Instead of NACA ducts, squared-off openings gather more air, even at the cost of extra drag. The side bodywork has larger radiator openings, and extra vents draw away heat and excess air. Unlike the B05/40, the turbocharger inlets moved from beside the cockpit to the rear wheel fenders, partly because the B06/10 needed two intakes while the B05/40 only needed one.

The B06/10 was designed around two engine options: the Advanced Engine Research (AER) P32T twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V8, or the Judd GV5 naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V10. The GV5 itself was never used, but an upgraded GV5.5 S2 5.5-liter V10 was run by Charouz Racing Systems in 2007. Swiss Spirit also installed an Audi twin-turbocharged 3.6-liter V8 for the 2007 season, with help from Audi Sport.

Like the B05/40, the B06/10 received ongoing upgrades. For 2007, aerodynamic changes nearly identical to those on the B05/40 replaced the two large ducts between the fenders with a single large duct in a slightly raised nose. Some cars with these updates are called B07/10, while older cars keep the B06/10 name. Minor modifications were needed to fit Swiss Spirit’s Audi V8.

In 2006, three B06/10s were sold to two teams. Dyson Racing ran two cars in the American Le Mans Series, and Chamberlain-Synergy ran one in the Le Mans Series and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Dyson’s AER-powered cars struggled, taking no wins and finishing second to the dominant Audi R10. Chamberlain-Synergy tied for second in the Le Mans Series without a win, beaten by Pescarolo Sport.

Quick Facts

Class: LMP1
Developer: Lola Cars International
Year introduced: 2006

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Due to similarity in the new regulations between LMP1 and LMP2, Lola was able to easily develop an all new LMP1 car based on their existing and successful B05/40 LMP2. Sharing most of the design elements evolved from the MG-Lola EX257, the B06/10 would bring them to a larger scale meant for larger engines than the LMP2 class allowed. This would include increased cooling and air management, as well as the ability to carry much larger engines as well as turbochargers. Although the nose of the B06/10 is nearly identical to the B05/40, among the most noticeable differences is the use of larger brake ducts between the fenders and raised nose than those seen on the B05/40. Instead of NACA ducts, large squared off openings would be used to collect more air, even if it increased drag. The sides of the car would also include larger openings for the radiators, while extra vents were used to draw away heat and unnecessary air. Unlike the B05/40 though, inlets for the turbochargers would be moved from their position next to the cockpit, to a new position integrated into the rear wheel fenders, partially because two intakes were necessary on the B06/10 while only a single was needed on the B05/40.

For engines, the B06/10 was specifically designed around the use of either the Advanced Engine Research (AER) P32T twin-turbocharged 3.6 Litre V8 or the Judd GV5 naturally aspirated 5.0 Litre V10. While the GV5 has yet to be used, an upgraded GV5.5 S2 5.5 Litre V10 was put into use by Charouz Racing Systems in 2007. Swiss Spirit have also installed an Audi twin-turbocharged 3.6 Litre V8 for the 2007 season, with assistance from Audi Sport. Like the B05/40, the B06/10 has been continually upgraded by Lola. For 2007 aerodynamic improvements nearly identical to those seen on the B05/40, which included the replacement of the two large ducts between the fenders with a large single duct in a slightly raised nose. This has led to some of the cars to be named B07/10, while the older cars tend to keep the B06/10 name. Some modification to the design of the B06/10 was necessary for Swiss Spirit's Audi V8 to be able to be used, although it was minor.

Reader's Guide

The Lola B06/10 served as Lola's primary LMP1 contender from 2006 onward, competing in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its development leveraged the successful B05/40 LMP2 platform, adapting it for larger engines and turbochargers. The car saw use by multiple teams with various engine configurations, including AER, Judd, and Audi powerplants. In 2006, three cars were sold to Dyson Racing and Chamberlain-Synergy, but neither team achieved wins, finishing second to dominant rivals. By 2007, the car spread to additional teams such as Team Cytosport, Intersport Racing, Charouz Racing Systems, and Swiss Spirit. Use declined in 2008 as teams moved to newer chassis, though Autocon Motorsports and Intersport Racing continued with the B06/10 into 2009. Autocon resurrected the car for a partial 2011 season, where it typically ran last in LMP1 unless other teams encountered mechanical problems. The B06/10's legacy lies in its adaptability across multiple series and engine types, and its role as a bridge between Lola's earlier prototypes and later designs.