Tolman is set to showcase its Historic motorsport, Restoration and race car management capabilities at Race Retro – Europe’s number one historic motorsport show – at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire (21-23 February).
The company will proudly display an ex-Jim Clark Lotus 18 single-seater and an evocative Lola T212 sportscar, originally owned and raced by the head of Red Bull Racing’s driver development programme, Doctor Helmut Marko.
Tolman, well known and respected for its concours-level restorations and historic race car management, has been employed to maintain and run a pair of Lotus 18s in the Historic Sports Car Championship (HSCC) and FIA Lurani Trophy for Formula Junior cars.
Conceived as a low-cost entry point to single-seater competition, Formula Junior utilised mass-produced 1000 or 1100cc engines, gearboxes and brakes and provided a platform for several drivers who went on to dominate Formula 1, including two-time World Champion, Clark.
Tolman has been commissioned to run a pair of Lotus 18s, one an example of the car Clark took to Formula Junior Championship success in 1960, for the duration of a two-pronged season in the HSCC and FIA Lurani Trophy, having completed works that introduced new plumbing and dampers and an optimised set up.
The Lola T212, meanwhile, received a lot of attention during a substantial winter rebuild to bring the sportscar up to Tolman’s exacting standards, as all of the suspension has been renewed and a new wiring loom and plumbing have been installed for a planned campaign in the FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship. The car will also undergo a rigorous test and development programme prior to the start of the season.
The bright orange Lola and green Lotus will look striking against the backdrop of Tolman’s new retro stand – designed to revive the spirit of the Fifties and Sixties and the golden era of motorsport – where the company will launch its new website at 10:00 on Friday (21 February).
Tolman’s Managing Director, Christopher Tolman, said: “Race Retro is always a good show for Tolman and we’re looking forward to exhibiting our motorsport restoration and historic race car management capabilities at this year’s event, on our new Goodwood-esque stand.
“We’re displaying two cars that showcase our wide-ranging engineering abilities. The Lotus 18 is an iconic single-seater that’s synonymous with Jim Clark, but it’s also a brilliant representation of the historic race support and preparation services we provide to clients from all over the world. Then we have the Lola T212, which is a striking car with great pedigree that showcases Tolman’s engineering prowess, as visitors to Race Retro will be able to see the result of a thorough winter rebuild for a full and demanding assault on the 2020 FIA Masters Historic Sports Car Championship.”
