1972 Lola T280

In 1972 Lola made a 3-liter variant of their Group 6 car called the T280. This was fitted with the Formula 1 Cosworth DFV engine and was developed by Patrick Head and John Barnard.

The first two cars were delivered to Ecurie Bonnier for the Belgian Racing Team. Both cars had teething troubles throughout the 1972 World Sports Car season including a fatal crash involving Joakim Bonnier at the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans. He was racing with about 180 mph and got involved with a Ferrari 365 Daytona before the second kink. According to Vic Elford he went airborn and spun into the adjacent trees.

T280’s were also made for Noritake Takahara in the Japan Sports Car Championship and possibly another for Carlos Gaspar with sporadic use in 1972.