A winning 2-litre sportscar design with Belgian heritage
New FIA HTP valid until 2036

The European 2-litre Sportscar Championship that was introduced in 1970 reached new heights three years into its existence. All the major customer chassis manufacturers raised their game with updated versions that would stake their claim on the title in the series dedicated to nimble open-top Group 5 sports prototypes. While Bolton-based Chevron came up with the B21 as the next in line to their successful 1971 B19 chassis, Huntington rivals Lola introduced the T290 as the successor to the T210 and T212 that had been winning propositions in the two preceding seasons.

The T290 design was a collaborative effort between Bob Marston and two young designers that would reach the dizzying heights of world fame in the next two decades, Patrick Head and John Barnard. The three drew on the previous T210 design and its T212 evolution by creating a new aluminium monocoque mated to a double-wishbone front suspension, while the rear suspension consisted of reversed lower wishbones and top links with twin radius rods. A tubular steel frame was attached to the tub to allow for a choice between various engines. The Cosworth FVC, the new Cosworth-developed Chevrolet Vega and BDG engines were the go-to options for most of Lola’s customers. Using a different steel frame, a Cosworth DFV V8 could also be fitted, which resulted in the 3-litre T280 model.

In the European Championship, leading Lola t290 runners Guy Edwards, José Maria Juncadella and Jean-Louis Lafosse competed with Arturo Merzario’s Abarth Osella SE021 and John Burton’s Chevron B21, with Lafosse winning the Nürburgring 500kms round. In the World Championship for Makes, Interserie, Can-Am and the British and French Sportscar Championships, the T290 continued to bring home the class wins for Lola. The T290 was especially made famous by Ecurie Bonnier, which included Gérard Larrousse and Jorge de Bagration in its line-up of drivers, while Jo Bonnier himself raced an Ecurie Filipinetti example until his tragic death at Le Mans in 1972.

In total, 32 T290s were built, of which chassis HU17 was acquired by illustrious Belgian coachbuilder Marcel van Hool. The Van Hool company was widely known for its wide range of its buses and coaches, most of them self-built or bodied on existing bus chassis from manufacturers such as Volvo and Scania. Marcel’s son Mikke became a race winner in British Formula 3 and would reach Formula 3000 in the mid-nineties.

HU17 raced in the European 2-litre Sportscar Championship in 1972 and 1973, with Van Hool running Belgian F2/F3 driver Freddy Grainal. Clad in a combined Fort Koffie/Café (‘Strong Coffee’) and Rubery Owen livery, the FVC-engined car was a competitive fifth on its debut at the Nürburgring 500kms. Two early retirements followed at the Barcelona 400kms at Montjuich Park and the Jarama 2 Hours.

In 1973 Grainal campaigned it in the Belgian local scene, winning two minor races, before he finished the season with another European outing at Montjuich Park.  In period HU17 had different liveries of which pictures are

attached. Later in the decade, the car changed bodywork and was given a Porsche engine to compete in the European Hillclimb scene.

Late 90’s early 00’s the car was restored by Richard Tovey of Newbridge Motorsport with the help of former Lola employees like Chris Fox and others.

The restoration resulted in very strong outings in the 2002 (Pole sitter) and 2004 Le Mans Classic editions. And it has been a capable competitor in historics ever since showing strong competition against 3L cars and and T70’s on more technical circuits.  In recent years the car was maintained by Ex Lola employee Tim Willmer at Lexham Engineering on behalf of its current owner who had the pole at Portimao in 2016 and liked the car so much that he decided to buy it.

The car comes with a fresh FIA HTP and is an extremely useful entry for Peter Auto’s Le Mans Classic Series CER2, Grid 5 of Le Mans Classic 2027, Masters Sports Car Legends and Motor Racing Legends’ 2-Litre Sportscars.

The car is finished in the attractive “Golden Yellow” but could equally well be dressed in any of the period liveries as attached like the “Strong Coffee” livery pictured together with Marcel van Hool and family friend Juan Manuel Fangio.