Lola T332
Encyclopedia
The Lola T332 was a race car designed and built by Lola Cars for use in Formula 5000
racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet
V8 engine
, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia
, the United Kingdom
, New Zealand
and the United States
.
The alloy/steel tub of the T332 followed standard Lola design practice with twin bulkheads and utilised a semi-stressed engine and transmission. Twin side radiators were mounted in front of the rear wheels which were located by upper and lower links and radius rods. Driven through a Hewland
DG300 5-speed transmission, a T332 was once timed at 305 km/h (189.5 mp/h) at the now closed Ontario Motor Speedway
in Ontario, California
.
Australian driver Warwick Brown
used a T332 to win the 1975 Tasman Series
as well as the 1975 New Zealand Grand Prix. In doing so he became the only Australian driver to ever win the Tasman Series
. New Zealand
driver Ken Smith also used a Lola T332 to win the 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix. As a side note, both the 1975 and 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix
's were held at Pukekohe Park Raceway
.
During its competition life, the T332 also won the US Formula A/F5000 Championship in 1974 and 1975 driven by British driver Brian Redman
, the British Formula 5000 Championship in 1974 driven by Formula One
driver Bob Evans and the 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship
when driven by South Australian Johnnie Walker
who also won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix
in his T332. Walker also used a T332 to finish 2nd in the 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship
.
Formula 5000
Formula 5000 was an open wheel, single seater auto-racing formula that ran in different series in various regions around the world from 1968 to 1982. It was originally intended as a low-cost series aimed at open-wheel racing cars that no longer fit into any particular formula...
racing and made its racing debut in 1973. Commonly using the 5.0L Chevrolet
Chevrolet Small-Block engine
The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block...
V8 engine
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, the T332 was successful around the globe with race victories in places such as Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The alloy/steel tub of the T332 followed standard Lola design practice with twin bulkheads and utilised a semi-stressed engine and transmission. Twin side radiators were mounted in front of the rear wheels which were located by upper and lower links and radius rods. Driven through a Hewland
Hewland
Founded by Mike Hewland in 1957, Hewland is a British engineering company specialising in racing-car gearboxes. Hewland was the first company to manufacture a bespoke racing-car gearbox....
DG300 5-speed transmission, a T332 was once timed at 305 km/h (189.5 mp/h) at the now closed Ontario Motor Speedway
Ontario Motor Speedway
The Ontario Motor Speedway, located in Ontario, California, east of Los Angeles, was the first and only automobile racing facility built to accommodate major races sanctioned by all of the four dominant racing sanctioning bodies: IndyCar Series and USAC for open-wheel oval car races; NASCAR for a ...
in Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
.
Australian driver Warwick Brown
Warwick Brown
Warwick Brown is a former racing driver from Australia.Brown participated in a single Formula One Grand Prix, on 10 October 1976. He drove a Williams-Wolf at the US GP and finished 14th....
used a T332 to win the 1975 Tasman Series
1975 Tasman Series
The 1975 Tasman Series was the twelfth and final in the series, beginning on 5 January and ending on 23 February after eight races.The series was won by Australian driver Warwick Brown in his fifth year of Formula 5000 racing with the Pat Burke Racing team, driving a Lola T332 Chevrolet...
as well as the 1975 New Zealand Grand Prix. In doing so he became the only Australian driver to ever win the Tasman Series
Tasman Series
The Tasman Series was a motor racing series held from 1964 to 1975, in Australia and New Zealand, and named after the Tasman Sea between the two countries...
. New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
driver Ken Smith also used a Lola T332 to win the 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix. As a side note, both the 1975 and 1976 New Zealand Grand Prix
New Zealand Grand Prix
The New Zealand Grand Prix, sometimes known as the New Zealand International Grand Prix, is an annual motor racing event held in New Zealand first run in 1950. Currently it is the signature race of the Toyota Racing Series. It is one of only two current national Grand Prix events that are not part...
's were held at Pukekohe Park Raceway
Pukekohe Park Raceway
Although Pukekohe Park Raceway is better known internationally as a motor racing circuit, it is primarily a horse racing circuit in New Zealand. It is located south of Auckland City in the North Island. The track is now owned by Pukekohe Park Limited...
.
During its competition life, the T332 also won the US Formula A/F5000 Championship in 1974 and 1975 driven by British driver Brian Redman
Brian Redman
Brian Herman Thomas Redman is a British racing driver from England....
, the British Formula 5000 Championship in 1974 driven by Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
driver Bob Evans and the 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship
1979 Australian Drivers' Championship
A 1979 Australian Drivers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for drivers of Australian Formula 1 racing cars. The championship winner was awarded the 1979 CAMS Gold Star...
when driven by South Australian Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker (racing driver)
Johnnie Walker is a former Australian racing driver. Born in Adelaide, he first raced Holden FE's in the 1960s. After competing in the Australian Formula 2 Championship he graduated to Formula 5000 where he drove an Elfin and a Matich A50 before switching to the Lola marque in late 1973.Walker...
who also won the 1979 Australian Grand Prix
1979 Australian Grand Prix
The 1979 Australian Grand Prix was an open wheel racing car race held at Wanneroo Park on 11 March 1979.It was the forty fourth Australian Grand Prix and was open to Australian Formula 1 cars...
in his T332. Walker also used a T332 to finish 2nd in the 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship
1975 Australian Drivers' Championship
The 1975 Australian Drivers' Championship was the nineteenth Australian Drivers' Championship. It was contested by drivers of Australian Formula 1 and Australian Formula 2 Racing cars over a five round series with points awarded on a 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 basis to the top six placegetters in each...
.