Formula E
Why Gen4 feels like Lola’s true Formula E beginning
Lola’s long-awaited comeback to motorsport has so far yielded just one podium finish in Formula E, but the brand has big ambitions for the future as it prepares for the Gen4 era
Rachit Thukral
Published: May 11, 2026, 2:30 PM
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Zane Maloney, Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team
Photo by: Malcolm Griffiths / LAT Images via Getty Images
There is no shortage of major OEMs on the 2026-27 Formula E grid, with Porsche, Jaguar and Stellantis among the biggest names committed to the series’ Gen4 era. But one recently-revived marque is also hoping to take the fight to the heavyweights in the category.
Long-time motorsport fans will be familiar with Lola and its exploits in both sportscar racing and junior formulae. Aside from its disastrous lone season in Formula 1 with sponsorship from Mastercard, Lola enjoyed plenty of success as a specialist constructor over the decades, so it was a great shame when the brand disappeared from motorsport after filing for bankruptcy.
Naturally, there was a lot of anticipation when Lola returned to motorsport in 2024 following its takeover by businessman Till Bechtolsheimer. But entering Formula E midway through the Gen3 era was always going to leave it on the back foot, and it has struggled for results so far in the championship.
Last season, the Lola-Yamaha Abt venture finished at the bottom of the standings on 32 points, with just four finishes inside the top 10 (including a standout second-place in Miami). This season, Lola has found the going even tougher, particularly with overheating and rear-traction issues, and has just one point to its name from the opening eight rounds.
But the Gen4 era will offer Lola a level-playing field and give the British brand a chance to take on some of the best manufacturers in the field.
“In Gen 3, we came halfway through a cycle and that makes a difference,” team principal Mark Preston told Motorsport.com.
“We are two years behind them, so that's the big thing. Have a look at F1 and certainly my experience in Formula E. It takes some time when you get a new team going and working together.
“It does take time, especially when they're ahead, so you can't expect to catch up immediately. So, starting at the same time [in Gen4] as everybody else is key.
“We will just keep building. In Formula E, the target is to get yourself into the duels regularly and then challenge for more points in races.”
Mark Preston, Team Principal of Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
Competing in Gen4 was always part of the plan to enter Formula E, and both Lola and its technical partner Yamaha are already well into the development of the new powertrain. There were some early setbacks, but the programme now appears to be back on track.
Like most manufacturers, Lola completed initial testing at Monteblanco and Almeria with what was essentially a mule car - a hybrid of Gen3 and Gen4 powertrains. Only Jaguar - and potentially Porsche - are understood to have completed any running with the full Gen4 package so far.
“We had a bit of a hybrid version up until now in order to get going so quickly because there was the opportunity to test late last year, and we thought it was worth making the trade-off to get out on track and start finding some of the issues.
“So we found some issues and we solved the issues, and now they're being implemented on the full version of the car which we'll go testing [with soon].”
Lola has expanded its Silverstone facility to prepare for the Gen4 programme, with a new state-of-the-art simulator recently being installed.
While the technical partnership with Yamaha has been renewed, Abt will no longer be part of the alliance, with Lola taking things into its own hands by setting up its in-house team. Current Abt Formula E employees have been offered the opportunity to move across to Lola-Yamaha, while the team has also made several hirings in serious positions.
“The car's being built at the moment,” Preston said about the Gen4 programme. “All of the latest parts are arriving and we should be going testing [with the full car] quite soon.
“All the modelling and simulation and the activities that happened before the car itself actually arrives on track have been going to plan.
“Everyone's been working on it for quite a while now, so it feels like we're making progress.
“There'll be a lot of stuff that carries over from Gen3 as well because this series is a lot about preparations, tools and the software that goes behind the scenes to make these cars quick. So, progress here [in Gen3] also makes progress on Gen4.“
Hugh Barter, Lola Yamaha ABT Formula E Team Lola-Yamaha T001
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Getty Images
The Gen4 rules mark a major technological leap for Formula E. While the headline figures - such as 800bhp and faster-than-F2 performance - have been well documented, the cars themselves will get more complex, posing a huge challenge for engineers.
Teams have successfully requested the FIA to allow two additional staff members to operate the cars next season, highlighting the increased workload they will face when the 2026-27 season begins in December this year.
“It's obviously a big step in the active differentials and stuff that is on the car,” Preston explained.
“Active differentials on the rear have been in F1 for a while, but nobody's run, at least that I know of, electric powertrains with a front active diff in an open-wheeler.
“Obviously, we've all experienced four-wheel drive now but we've got new tyres. Tyres are pretty dominant in any racing series and it's much more of an aero car, so those two factors will add up.”
The on-track development is being led by Formula E stalwart Lucas di Grassi, who will retire from full-time competition at the end of the season to take on a bigger role elsewhere. Whether he ends up working for Lola in a managerial capacity or joins Formula E Operations remains to be seen.
His departure will also create a vacancy within the team alongside Zane Maloney, who has impressed in his short Formula E career so far. Who Lola chooses to leads it Gen4 programme may reveal just how ambitious this revived motorsport giant intends to be.
Read Also:
Formula EWhat next for Lucas di Grassi after retiring as a professional driver?
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