2010 Lola LMP breaks cover - 13/01/10 Lola have released details of its much anticipated development upgrades to the successful LMP1 and LMP2 designs. IMAGE COURTESY OF LOLA GROUP The newly titled B10/60 LMP1 Coupe sees significant upgrades in both mechanical and aerodynamic areas. The Lola LMP cars are set to race on both sides of the Atlantic in 2010, as well as at the 78th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. After winning both LMP1 and LMP2 Le Mans Series constructors titles in 2009, Lola has continued to invest in and further develop its capabilities to ensure that the LMP designs have a major advancement in pace for the new racing season. Julian Sole, Chief Engineer, explains: "We have done a lot of work on suspension geometry, improving front and rear suspension; there was quite a big focus on that this year. When the car is released you'll be able to see the rear of the bodywork is a lot different. Everything rearwards from the door is different. We have also incorporated on to the LMP1 the removable rear end that we had on the LMP2 car last year." "We really started work in the middle of last season. Then the regulation changes influenced it further which meant that we had to keep going longer (in the tunnel) which worked extremely well for us." "The regulation changes, although they seem quite small, always affect the balance of the car and the performance of the car, so it's just working to make the car work with the new regulations. In practice it meant we had to change a few surfaces on the car." "With the interim regulations for 2010, the changes next year centre on the bodywork around the rear wheels where you now have to have a louver panel rather than gauze. Up until 2010 we have been able to just put wire mesh behind the rear wheels which now the ACO would like removed, really because the gauze is getting damaged by lumps of rubber (marbles) and stones flicking up from the rear wheels and pushing the meshes out and leaving meshes lying on the track which can be dangerous. So the ACO have changed the regulations to incorporate a louvre panel rather than a mesh and that is part of an interim rule because the 2011 regulations will be closing that area off totally. So, we will not be allowed any openings there at all eventually."