T490
A publicity shot of the T490. (The Lola Archive)
The Lola T490 was the first purpose built chassis to be completed for the new for 1977 Sports 2000 series, a total of 10 examples of this neat and compact design were built which comprised a straight forward monocoque with a forward braced roll hoop giving additional stiffness and a front-mounted water radiator. Suspension was conventional Lola, at the front outboard spring/dampers with upper and lower wishbones. At the rear the spring/dampers were again outboard with a top link, reversed lower wishbone and twin radius rods and inboard brakes. The engine was the 2-litre 4-cylinder Ford Pinto engine although the official Ford designation was the TL20. Power was 126-128 bhp transmitted to the road via a Hewland Mk9 gearbox.
The first season of Sports 2000 saw a 20-round Championship with sponsorship from SodaStream and the T490 hit the ground running when Divina Galica won the opening round at Oulton Park and that was the start of almost total domination from Lola. Of the twenty rounds the T490 won nineteen with Galica wining ten, John Cooper five and Chris Alford, John Brown, Rad Dougall and Derek Daly taking one each. The inaugural Championship went to Cooper through greater consistency than Galica
Drawing of the T490. (The Lola Archive)
Press Release SPORTS 2000 is the first—ever formula devised utilising the combined efforts of Britain's race promoters and racing manufacturers. Featured above with the first production car, a Lola, are (L to R) John Webb (Managing Director (Motor Circuit Developments), John Wickham (Thruxton Circuit), Jimmy Brown (Silverstone Circuit), Eric Broadley (Managing Director, Lola Cars Ltd), Tony Salmon (British Racing Drivers Club) and Peter Browning (British Racing & Sports Car Club). Sitting at the wheel of the Shellsport Lola T490 is its driver Divina Galica, Britain’s top lady racing driver.
(The Lola Archive)
(The Lola Archive)
An all-Lola front row - Mallory Park Summer 1977 - Divina Galica (far side), Rod Gretton and Chris Alford
Photograph © Alan Cox
Photograph © Alan Cox
Chris Alford leads Rod Gretton round the Mallory hairpin 1977 - Photograph © Alan Cox
The T490 less rear bodywork. (The Lola Archive)
Divina Galica with her customary race number.