Lola THL1

Lola THL1

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Team Haas (USA) Ltd.
Designer(s)	Neil Oatley John Baldwin
Successor	THL2
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon fibre with aluminium honeycomb monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, push-rod and rocker actuated coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, push-rod and rocker actuated coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Axle track	Front: 1,778 mm (70.0 in) Rear: 1,662 mm (65.4 in)
Wheelbase	2,720 mm (107 in)
Engine	Hart 415T, 1,459 cc (89.0 cu in), Straight 4, turbo, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Hewland / FORCE 6-speed manual
Weight	557 kg (1,230 lb)
Fuel	BP
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Team Haas (USA) Ltd.
Notable drivers	Alan Jones Patrick Tambay
Debut	1985 Italian Grand Prix
Races Wins Poles Fastest laps 7 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Lola THL1 was a Formula One racing car designed by Neil Oatley and John Baldwin for Team Haas (USA) Ltd. during four of the last five races of the 1985 Formula One season. The car used the 750 bhp (559 kW; 760 PS), turbocharged Hart 415T Straight 4 engine. The Haas Lola team only had one car for 1985 and it was driven by 1980 World Champion Alan Jones, who was making a full time comeback to Formula One at the age of 39.

1985

The THL1 maded its debut at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, with Jones qualifying 25th, 9.859 seconds behind pole sitter Ayrton Senna, but retiring after just 6 laps due to an overheating engine. The next race, the Belgian Grand Prix, had been re-scheduled from June 2 so the team were not allowed to compete because they were not on the original entry list. Additionally, Jones qualified 18th for the South African Grand Prix but withdrew before the race due to illness.

Jones showed the potential of the car in the final race of the season, the first ever Australian Formula One Grand Prix (the 1985 AGP was in fact the 50th running of the race, but it was the first time it was part of the FIA World Championship). The Australian qualified 19th for his home race but stalled the car at the start leaving him dead last. After getting a push start and being almost a quarter of a lap behind, Jones fought his way through the field and was up to 6th and into the points by lap 20 before being forced to retire with electrical trouble.

1986

The car was to be replaced for the start of the 1986 season but the new Lola THL2 was delayed meaning that the THL1 was pressed into service for the first three races of the season, its last race being the San Marino Grand Prix. Joining the Australian ex-World Champion in a second car was ex-Ferrari and Renault driver, Frenchman Patrick Tambay. The car would still use the turbocharged Hart engine, but when the THL2 appeared it was powered by the new Ford GBA V6 turbo. Neither Jones or Tambay would score a point with the Lola Hart THL1.

Interestingly the car was called a Lola but its only connection to the famous Lola Cars was because of car owner Carl Haas's previous close association with Lola founder Eric Broadley, who was also named as chief engineer for the team in 1985.

Complete Formula One results

(key)

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyres	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Pts.	WCC
1985	Team Haas (USA) Ltd.	Hart 415T S4 tc	G		BRA	POR	SMR	MON	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	NED	AUT	ITA	BEL	EUR	RSA	AUS	0	NC
				Alan Jones												Ret		Ret	DNS	Ret
1986	Team Haas (USA) Ltd.	Hart 415T S4 tc	G		BRA	ESP	SMR	MON	BEL	CAN	DET	FRA	GBR	GER	HUN	AUT	ITA	EUR	MEX	AUS	6*	8th
				Alan Jones	Ret	Ret
				Patrick Tambay	Ret	8	Ret

* 1986 season points all scored using Lola THL2