GReen KinG

Former F1 racer Johnny Herbert takes to the track behind the wheel of the 'ultimate' ex-David Piper Lola T70

- Damien Smith

BRUTAL, ISN'T IT? Especially in that vivid shade of green. But the Lola T70, even in its ultimate MkIIIB form you see here, was never quite what it seemed. Intimidating to the eye - and the ear, thanks to that wonderfully sonorous 5.0-litre Chevy soundtrack - the T70 was and remains a relatively 'comfortable' racing car to drive. Which is just as well. Because, while an illustrious roster of star names raced it at the height of the model's late-60s/early-70s period life, it was always primarily intended to be friendly to amateurs. For Lola, the customer always came first.

That's what Johnny Herbert quickly discovered on his first encounter with this particular T70 on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit recently. 'Surprisingly, it's a bit like when you jump into a road car,' says the 1995 British GP winner, who today is relishing a new role as cheerleading ambassador for reborn Lola Cars. 'You sit in it, and you're comfortable straight away. Often in racing cars you have to fiddle around to get the seat and pedals in the right place. But the fit was very easy. Then once I got out of the garage and onto the pit-lane, the unassisted steering was easy. I was expecting it to feel heavy – but it wasn't. It's very well put together.'