Lola Yamaha announced that they will part ways with partner ABT at the end of the Formula E season. The decision was made just 18 races after the partnership was announced in April 2024.
In a team statement, Team Principal Mark Preston said:
“With the continued growth of the organisation, long-term commitment to Formula E and additional projects in the pipeline, Lola Cars has made the decision to consolidate its Formula E operations in-house at our Silverstone HQ.
“This will enable us to streamline activities, increase expertise for upcoming projects and better drive innovation through motorsport. ABT were our partner of choice to operate the team as we entered the all-electric racing series, with vast experience and technical expertise within Formula E.
“We’d like to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication during our first two seasons in the sport and look forward to continuing to collaborate with them for the remainder of Season 12.”
ABT without confirmed representation
The surprising move leaves ABT without confirmed representation for the first time since the 2022 season. Aside from the lack of representation in the 2022 season due to Audi’s departure from Formula E, ABT has remained involved in the FE Championship. According to The Race, current ABT race team employees can join Lola if they wish to remain with the Formula E programme.
Speaking about ABT’s role in Formula E, ABT Sportsline CEO Thomas Biermaier said:
“Abt is proud of the foundational role we played in Lola’s entry into Formula E. While Lola has made the strategic decision to consolidate its Formula E operations in-house at Silverstone to support future growth, this transition is a testament to the world-class operational standard we established together. We wish the Lola team continued success in their next chapter.”
The split appears to be part of Lola’s move to make its Formula E entry a more centralised, in-house operation. In addition, Lola aims to return to endurance racing and has been talking to prospective manufacturers about a combined entry into sportscars.
Lola currently sit ninth in the Formula E Team Standings with only one point. However, with only two race weekends having passed, there are still plenty of rounds to go. While the team is an underdog, there is always a chance of a change in trajectory.
