Lola Cars is one of the most recognisable names in motorsport history, with more than five hundred championship wins. In an exclusive 1:1 with Parc Femme, we spoke with Johnny Herbert following the launch of the brand’s newest cars, the T70S and T70S GT.

The launch of the T70S comes from British manufacturer, Lola Cars, who were originally founded in 1958 by Eric Broadley. The brand ran for more than fifty years, making it one of the oldest of racing cars in the world. The team competed in a variety of championships, securing Indy 500 wins, the 1969 Daytona 24, and numerous CART championships. 

Lola eventually ceased trading in 2012 before Till Bechtolsheimer bought the brand in 2022. From the get, he made his intentions of reviving the company in two years clear. With the plan on the table, Lola entered the eleventh season of Formula E and began their return to the racing world.

What is the T70S?

Upon arriving at the Royal Automobile Club, we sat with LOLA Chairman Till Bechtolsheimer, CEO Mishern Chetty, Executive Technical Director Peter McCool and Executive Innovation Director Matt Faulks to discuss the new T70S and T70S GT which would launch later that day. On the cars themselves, Bechtolsheimer said, “The T70 is not only one of Lola’s greatest designs, but one of the most iconic racing cars ever built.”

“The T70S represents an entirely unique example of preserving motorsport heritage while advancing sustainable innovation; a car identical to the original fire-spitting, Steve McQueen-era, V8 monster, but refined with advanced manufacturing processes, sustainable materials and an unparalleled attention to detail.”

The Sustainability of the T70S

Lola’s newest car is the world’s first sustainable classic. They’ve created a 100% ‘natural’ (petrochemical-free) bodywork system after developing their patent-pending LNCS (Lola Natural Composite System). The team is actively optimising their newest venture to further enhance its mechanical properties, aiming to set a new benchmark for eco-composites in automotive and motorsport.

The LNCS’s resin system, which binds a unique  combination of laminated piles using plant fibres produced via Northern European agriculture and basalt fibres derived from volcanic rock, is entirely plant based. The alternative materials deliver significant CO2 savings across the manufacturing procedures. 

The T70S and T70S GT both run a small block Chevrolet V8 engine, 5.0 litres and a power of 530bhp. With a performance of 0-100 KM/H in 2.5 seconds and top speeds of 203mph on the track car and 0-100 KM/H in 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 200mph in the road car, the legacy of the original T70 from 1964 lives on. 

Following the press conference, Parc Femme sat down with Lola’s Brand Ambassador, Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Johnny Herbert. Herbert joined the team in early 2025, following their entrance into Formula E.

But why did Johnny Herbert choose Lola as the brand he’d represent?

“I drove their INDYCAR at Rockingham, strangely enough, so it was the only real time I drove a Lola car. But the brand was always around me. The brand was always a brand that was one of the most competitive ones to be around.” He told Parc Femme during a 1:1 interview.

“I probably remember it most when Nigel Mansell went, after winning his world championship in Formula 1 to the INDYCAR, winning in the INDYCAR. So it’s back-to-back in a Lola and that period of time was a really, really interesting time with CART as it was called at the time.”

Herbert continued, “So with that, when this opportunity came up, discussing it a little bit with Till (Bechtolsheimer) and a friend of mine, Keith Smout, it just seemed the right time from when Lola sort of came to an end, that someone had the passion like Till, massive passion, for the brand to be able to sort of start it not as Lola was, didn’t want to replicate – you know, just making any race cars and all of the race cars all around the world.”

“He wanted to use that bridging of Lola history with the technology, modern technology, and combine it to it, which is what we’re going to see with the T70S and the GT. And then, other projects that will come on down the line. There’s a lot of projects that will benefit Lola with the development of modern technologies that it’s got. It’s moved in a non-Lola way but it’s still got the core essence of what Lola has always been about.”

Johnny Herbert’s admiration for the team and their commitment to retaining the essence of what Lola was, while bringing a newness to the brand, was a continued theme that was present throughout.

Going back to the question, he added, “To be a part of that as a brand ambassador, it’s enjoyable, thoroughly exciting. I enjoy when I hear people like Matt talking of the launch of the T70S and it fascinates me what they’re talking about. I don’t fully understand everything they’re talking about. Eventually, I get to ask them some questions and I sort of learn about how the technology works and it’s brilliant. It’s lovely that they have the passion for it. When you have Till, Peter, Matt – everybody who’s working at LOLA Cars, they have the passion. To be part of that, seeing that Lola brand blossoming in a new direction, it’s nice to be a part of it. Enjoying it.”

Being born in 1964, Herbert was only young when the T70 launched the following year. He was then barely five when it won Daytona’s 24 hour in 1969. With the brand’s track turned road car, the T70, repeating in the 2020s in a new form, we asked…

Which of Lola’s legendary cars was his favourite?

“I am going to be biased and be biased towards the T70 because it’s one of the most noisiest things that I’ve ever driven.” Herbert told Parc Femme. “So, noise is something that there’s still a wow factor to that and I think that’s what Lola and that period where Lola were racing with the T70 against the GT40’s and a little bit later, the 917 Porsche – that period was a really good period of racing with all the drivers that were there.”

When reminiscing on the past and the earlier years of Lola, he added. “With Jackie Oliver who’s coming tonight, he drove that car, Richard Attwood as well, I think he drove the T70 a couple of times. They’re just guys from that period that I’m lucky that I’m able to get in a car and feel what they felt, back in those 60s. Which, in the 60’s, the T70 and the GT40 and whatever, were the top creme-de-la-creme of racing in that period.

“It’s completely different than when I drove in probably the last sports car in Le Mans in the Audi R8. Completely different animal. Really comfortable. Everything’s in the right place ergonomically, sort of the right thing, paddle shifting, much more simple driving at Le Mans with that. But the rawness of that? And the driving, exhilaration and experience, and the way it sort of talks to you and the way you react to it and then how it reacts to your input to the car as well.”

“That’s what makes that period of car stand out because it’s alive, always alive. That’s the challenge. And it’s a lovely challenge that I’m very fortunate to still have that opportunity to feel that buzz again.”

Johnny Herbert hadn’t tested the new T70S ahead of yesterday’s reveal. However, the former racing driver has stacks of experience behind the wheel of a wide variety of cars, including the original T70 from the 1960’s. From winning the Formula Ford Festival in 1985 through until the present day, his resume is one to be admired. 

What does he expect to be the biggest difference with the T70S/GT compared to cars he’s driven in the past?

“I don’t know what I’m expecting yet because, obviously David’s (Piper) one is 1968/69 so it’s an older chassis where this is a brand, spanking new – exactly the same, but brand, spanking new.”

Questioningly, he added “Now, is the stiffness going to be different than the original? What is the stiffness going to do to the way the car handles? So, it was nice having the experience of the David Piper T70.”

“I think it’ll be subtle. Difference’s to the way the car handles, I don’t know which way it’s going to go. But, I’m fascinated to see how that will be different and the challenge will be. The challenge will be slightly different. It may be better, it may be faster and it may be more exhilarating from my point of view.” Johnny Herbert said, as he continued.

One of the key features of this new Lola resides in the gears. The original T70 gearstick was known for its raw, mechanical feature. It’s one of the key parts of the 1960s version that has been kept for the new machine.

“I think the fundamental core feelings are probably going to be very, very similar cause the gear stick and the gear linkage and the gear box is all the same so, that side of it I know I’m gonna have a nice smile on my face again. I love having a gear stick in my right hand; something that modern drivers probably through most of their career, never have that chance to drive to drive a stick shift.

“I’m lucky that I’ve sort of started with a stick shift, went through the paddles on Formula 1 and then went back to driving a gear stick again. So, I’m looking forward to it and seeing what difference it will be with the T70 and the T70S.”

Lola’s commitment to sustainability has been consistent. From joining Formula E as their first racing venture since its revival to launching the first sustainable classic, the brand is proving that you don’t need to lose out on the feeling that motorsport brings when putting the environment at the forefront of racing.

The two Lola cars are the gateway to the future. What are Herbert’s thoughts on this new beginning of classic car companies entering the world of sustainability?

“This is where Lola will hopefully be, and I think is at the moment, leading that forward.”

“With all the technology that they’re bringing onboard with the T70S which will eventually, sort of, be able to go in different directions. If it be on road cars to potentially some military ways, and all different sorts of spheres of the world that we live in and that chance of pushing those boundaries is very interesting.”

He continued, “Sustainability with the classic cars, it’s great. As I mentioned earlier on, to still have that ability to use older cars with all the modern technology, even with the V8 and still having the V8 without filling up with normal gasoline, it’s the synthetic bio-fuel that sort of is going to be very important down the line to all of us, at the end of the day.”

Herbert went on to compliment the world of motorsport and the brains that lead them. The masterminds that bring us quick, new automotive are the ones who help branch the world as we know it.

“What motorsport companies generally are very very good at is having something that no one’s really had before, developing very, very quickly and pushing those boundaries that will always benefit anybody, most of us in the world. It’s great to see that the old cars are still being used on race tracks because I think everybody thoroughly enjoys that experience of hearing them. Especially being behind the steering wheel of one of them as well.”

Classic cars are a significant piece of history in the motorsport world and Lola continues to prove that it doesn’t have to remain in the past. With a world that’s continuously changing, the brand is leading us in a new direction of cars and showing us the future of motorsports. The T70S isn’t only a beautiful car, both inside and out, but it’s also a brilliant reflection on its predecessor while remaining both classic and sustainable.