Ex-Team Surtees 1966 Lola T70 MK2, SL71/48in the International Pits during the 2017 Silverstone Classic
1966 Lola T70 MK2 ex Team Surtees SL71/48 was built in early 1966 by Lola Cars for Team Surtees and was displayed at the London Racing Car Show between the 19th and 29th January. Painted plain red, the car made its race debut at Snetterton for the Archie Scott-Brown Trophy in April ’66. Driven by Graham Hill. At Silverstone for International Trophy in May, David Hobbs drove but retired early in the wet and damp conditions. At Mallory Park for the Grovewood Trophy, Hobbs got the better of Denny Hulme in Sid Taylor’s T70 and looked like taking the win until a rear tyre deflated and Hobbs limped into the pits to retire. At a soaking wet Silverstone for the Martini Trophy, Hobbs started in pole position and took the lead and led Denny Hulme until the oil pressure suddenly dropped. Hobbs pitted for more oil and rejoined to finish third. During the pit stop it was discovered the leak had covered the rear tyres and brakes in oil. The last time the car was raced by Team Surtees was at Croft for the Wills Trophy where John Surtees won in an invincible display of supreme driving skills in miserable conditions. With the demise in 1967 of Group 7/9 racing in Europe, the car was exported to America for sale and was advertised by Fred Opert Racing Enterprises on behalf of John Surtees with Pierre Phillips and Carl Haas as agents. For the 1967 US Champions at Riverside, George Hollinger rented the car for one race with a view to buying after the event. However he decided against it. The car was then re-advertised over the next three months. Eventually an offer was accepted from Hollinger who had previously turned the car down a few months before. Hollinger raced the car in 1968 along with Dick Barbour. In 1969 he sold the car to Doug Abadie of California who paid $10,000 for what was referred to as a “Mk2B”. He tested and practiced with the car track day and private events, but never took part in any races. In 1971 Doug sold the car to a Texan who also had just purchased the cras
Size: 5616px × 3195px
Location: Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © John Gaffen / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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