1999 Lola B98/10 Judd

Overview

• Five‐time pole‐sitter in its debut season, the 1999 FIA Sports Racing World Cup
• Four outright victories in the 1999 FIA Sports Racing World Cup at Donington, Brno, Nurburgring and Kyalami
• One podium from three participations in the American Le Mans Series
• Two appearances at Le Mans 24 Hours, the second as star of the motion picture 'Michel Vaillant’ based on the famous French comic book hero
• Powered by Judd’s legendary 4.0L, naturally-aspirated, V10 producing approximately 640bhp at 11,000rpm
• Campaigned by celebrated French racing team, DAMS, who earned the works Cadillac contract at the end of the Lola campaign
• Driven by F1 and Sportscar stars Jean-Marc Gounon, Christophe Tinseau, Eric Bernard, Frank Montagny, Nic Minassian, Jason Plato and Jean-Denis Deletraz
• No-expense spared restoration by specialists Moto Historics in 2023
• Most successful example of ten B98/10s built by Lola and the only one powered by a Judd V10
• One of the ten “greatest ever Lola designs” according to Autosport Magazine
• Dry weight of only 850 kilograms, requiring 50kg ballast to meet homologation requirement
• Offered in race ready condition and accompanied by a staggering spares package
• Eligible for Peter Auto (Endurance Racing Legends), Masters Endurance Legends, HSR and more

Background

Lola Cars International emerged like a phoenix from the ashes with the all-new B98/10 unveiled in September of 1998. Designed to compete in the top level prototype ranks, it was the British answer to the Ferrari 333 SP and and Riley & Scott Mk III sports prototypes. The B98/10 was the first Lola developed under the new ownership of avid sports car racer Martin Birrane who had salvaged the company after the overambitious and ultimately disastrous Mastercard Formula 1 adventure. The 'B' in the type name was a reference to Birrane and the B98/10 was the first to use it.

Selling competitive racing cars had been a successful business model for Lola for many years and with the B98/10, the specialist manufacturer returned to its roots. It was designed to the latest Le Mans Prototype or LMP regulations, which meant it was eligible to race for outright victories in all the major endurance events and also in the SportsRacing World Cup and the newly created American Le Mans Series (ALMS).

As the B98/10 was intended to be raced by customer teams only, it was designed by newly hired engineer Peter Weston to accommodate a wide variety of engines and driver physiques. The front half of the chassis was a sophisticated carbon-fibre composite and aluminium monocoque with inboard suspension fitted on all four corners. By using a rear tubular subframe, the B98/10 could be fitted with the customer's engine of choice. These ranged from a thumping Ford push-rod V8 to a twin-turbo Lotus V8 and the then new four-litre Judd V10.

What really set the B98/10 apart from its contemporaries was the striking bodywork. It was fitted with a low nose that had an integrated splitter. Fresh air flowed into the laterally mounted radiators through channels between the fenders and the monocoque. The fenders themselves were very distinct with triangular headlight clusters. A full-width roll-over bar was fitted behind the cockpit. Different in each design depending on the engine fitted, an intake snorkel was mounted on the rear deck. The tall, twin-element wing provided the rear downforce.

With an eye on attracting American customers, the first B98/10 was given a very public test at Road Atlanta by James Weaver, the day after the inaugural Petit Le Mans. Eclipsing the Porsche GT1’s outright pole position time from two days earlier, Lola sold eight B98/10s on the spot.

Although dubbed the B98/10, the new SR1/LMP900 racer did not race in 1998 but instead made its debut at the official Daytona Test in January of 1999.

While the first two cars powered by Ford and Lotus engines suffered technical issues at the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours, back in Europe, the Judd-engined example of the Motorola-backed DAMS squad qualified on pole position for the Monza 500 km. It was noticeably faster than the Ferrari 333 SPs and Riley & Scott Mk III also entered. Unfortunately, a gearbox failure meant that it could not convert the pace into a first win.

Three examples lined up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in what was one of the most competitive fields in history. The DAMS car started 13th overall, but suffered an engine problem in the race. Gearbox issues prompted the retirement of the other two examples. By July however, the Judd-engined DAMS car was finally bullet proof and would score four outright wins from the final five rounds of the SportsRacing World Cup. In 2000, Kremer Racing scored one SportsRacing win with their Rousch Ford-engined car and went on to further pole positions in the 2001 FIA Sportscar championship.

By 2000, the pretty B98/10 had evolved into the B2K/10, which debuted at the Sebring 12 Hours with its distinctive, albeit it less attractive, high nose. It too was a race winner and a commercial success and helped to ensure the immediate future for one of the great racing car manufacturers.

This Car

Constructed in April of 1999, the car on offer is the eighth and final B98/10 built. Chassis HU08 was also the only one fitted from new with the brand new, Formula 1-derived Judd GV4 engine and was ordered by the accomplished French motorsports squad DAMS. Originally created by Jean-Paul Driot and Rene Arnoux, the team had been successful in various single-seater categories before expanding into sports cars, latterly with the Panoz Esperante GT1 cars.

The DAMS B98/10 was painted in a stunning piano black with contrasting white Motorola logos. Entered for grand-prix drivers Jean-Marc Gounon and Eric Bernard alongside sportscar star Christophe Tinseau, HU08 debuted in the Monza 500 km in April. This was the second of the nine-round SportsRacing World Cup. Chassis HU08 nevertheless qualified on pole position, over seven tenths ahead of the rest of the field. Sadly, a gearbox failure after 74 of the 86 laps ended the debut charge of the brand-new B98/10 early.

The car was on pole again for the Spa round of the SportsRacing World Cup but again reliability issues from the still-young car doing its development in public prompted an early retirement. Next up was Le Mans where Tinseau was joined by David Terrien and future grand prix driver Frank Montagny. After starting 13th, an engine failure on lap 77 saw the French team out of the race. The Lola was then shipped across the Atlantic for its ALMS debut at Mosport. Mechanical gremlins once again prevented the car for scoring a representative result.

Back in Europe, DAMS finally solved the reliability issues that had plagued the car’s first outings and the piano-black Lola converted yet another pole position into a deserving victory at Donington with Gounon and Bernard at the wheel. Later in the year, the French pairing also won three further SportsRacing World Cup rounds at Brno, the Nürburgring and Kyalami. 

With four wins from six starts, the DAMS Team placed third in the championship. Had the reliability arrived earlier in the season, surely the title was within reach. 

The B98/10 was also entered in additional ALMS rounds including the Petit Le Mans. The best result was a third overall at the Las Vegas race behind two works BMWs.

In a recent interview with Gary Watkins from Autosport, star driver Jean-Marc Gounon recalled his time with B98/10-HU08: "It had exceptional agility. It was a real racing car, so you could be aggressive with it on turn-in, even in high-speed corners. If you did that, it would just stick to the road. I drove the Ferrari 333SP as well which was a little better in slow-speed corners, but anywhere quick, the Lola was fantastic."

DAMS' successful season with the Lola B98/10 had not gone by unnoticed as the team was entrusted to run the works Cadillac Le Mans effort during the 2000 season. That meant that HU08 was set aside but it made a spectacular return to the limelight in 2002 when it was fielded in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as part of the French motion picture 'Michel Vaillant' that was released a year later. Finished in the famous cartoon character's iconic blue colours, it completed the race, again run by the DAMS team.

In 2002, the B98/10 was sold to Bob Berridge. Retaining the Vaillant ‘blue’ livery, he campaigned the car at select events between 2002 and 2005 but with limited success. Late in 2006, the car was sold to the late William M Wonder. The former airline pilot and accomplished racer had amassed a formidable collection of competition cars over the years. In 2023, HU08 was subjected to a comprehensive, no expense spared restoration at the hands of esteemed British specialists, Moto Historics, including full crack testing, new fuel cells, full service and check through of the electronics, as well as a full gearbox refurbishment and a full rebuild of the 4-litre Judd V10 engine The car was also returned to its striking Motorola colours as used by DAMS in 1999.

Acquired by our vendor in late 2023, HU08 has seen some track use over the past year, competing in both Masters Endurance Legends and Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends events. Today, the car is offered in race-ready condition and accompanied by an enormous spares package including (but not limited to) a complete set of bodywork, four sets of wheels, suspension, gearbox internals and much, much more.

HU08 is therefore perfect for an immediate and undoubtedly competitive entry into the hugely popular Peter Auto Endurance Racing Legends series, and of course Master’s Endurance Racing Legends where it is likely to surprise with its pace against much younger cars. Additionally, the car is very well suited to any of HSR’s event in the USA, in particular the prestigious Sebring and Daytona classic events in which it would no doubt be a front runner.

Certification & Component Life

Technical Passport:

• Issuer: Endurance Racing Legends

• Expiry Date: January 2034

Crack Testing:

• Last Date Completed: 2024

Engine Life:

• Last rebuild: Early 2023 by Judd

• Current Engine Mileage: 928 kms

• Recommended Engine Rebuild Interval: 3,000 kms

• Remaining Mileage Available: 2,072 kms

Gearbox:

• Stripped and overhauled, with all internals crack tested and replaced where needed by Moto Historics in 2023 and maintained since by OC Racing as required

Fuel Cell Certification:

• Expiry Date: 2028

Seatbelt Certification:

• Expiry Date: TBC

Fire Extinguisher Certification:

• Last Service: TBC

Technical Specification

• Category                              
• LMP900
• Chassis                                 
• Carbon fibre monocoque 
• Engine                                  
• 3,997cc, Judd GV4 V10 engine, circa 650 BHP
• Gearbox                               
• Hewland 6-speed manual sequential
• Front suspension               
• Double wishbones, push-rod actuated springs and dampers
• Rear suspension                 
• Double wishbones, push-rod actuated springs and dampers
• Brakes                                   
• Ventilated carbon discs 
• Weight                                  
• 850kgs dry weight 
• Tyres                                     
• Michelin racing slicks/wets

Eligibility

• Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends – Including Le Mans Classic
• For GTs and prototypes, which competed in major endurance series and events between 1994 and 2010, Peter Auto’s Endurance Racing Legends holds a full annual calendar of events. These events take place at iconic circuits such as Mugello, Spa and Paul Ricard. In addition, the series also partakes in the bi-annual Le Mans Classic, which is the marquee event of historic endurance racing, with the latest edition to be held in July 2025.
• Masters Endurance Legends
• For Le Mans Prototypes and GT cars, which competed in the major endurance championships between 1995 and 2016, Masters Endurance Legends holds a full annual calendar of events both in the UK and in Europe. These events take place at some iconic circuits, including Silverstone, Spa and Paul Ricard.
• Monterey Motorsports Reunion – Scott Pruett Endurance Legends Cup
• This annual event takes place during the iconic Monterey car week at the world-renowned Laguna Seca circuit. Holding races for a wide range of competition cars, these Ascaris would be eligible for the Scott Pruett Endurance Legends Cup, which is for cars, which competed in IMSA, ALMS, Grand AM and FIA endurance championships between 1991 and 2011. The next running of the Monterey Motorsports Reunion is set to take place in August 2025.
• HSR Group 6 - Including Daytona and Sebring Classics
• For IMSA/FIA prototypes, which competed post-1998, HSR’s Group 6 holds a number of events in the United States. Among these events are two of the premier events for historic endurance competition, which are HSR Classic Daytona in November and HSR Classic Sebring 12 Hour in December.

Spare Parts

• The car is accompanied by a vast spares package, a full inventory is available on request.

Sam Says

“I drove a Lola B98/10  for Kremer Racing back in 2001 and although our Ford engine lacked reliability, we led every race we contested and were often faster than Ferrari 333SPs, Courage C60s, Riley & Scott Mk3s and even the snazzy new Domes and Dallaras. This chassis, mated to a Judd V10, is an utterly formidable combination that I’m sure can be super competitive in Peter Auto and perhaps even surprise some of the younger cars in Masters Endurance Legends with its raw pace."