Farewell to an international behemoth
A long way from the spotlight, an iconic constructor quietly bowed out of world motorsport last weekend in Petit Le Mans, ending an era that has spanned six decades and thousands of cars
Everyone at Petit Le Mans last weekend was talking about the end of an era. The 1000-mile enduro was the final race for the Daytona Prototype class, but there was a much more significant curtain-call that was largely overlooked.
The Road Atlanta event was surely the last appearance for Lola in an international motor race of any importance.
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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
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