During some two hours of running the car performed faultlessly. The entire team, including engineers and observers from Lola and Judd, were able to draw hugely positive conclusions from the day. Even before he sat in the car, however, Thomas Erdos was already finding it hard to curb his enthusiasm. “It looks pretty awesome, doesn’t it,” he grinned, looking at the sleek red, white and blue MG Lola. The car had been unloaded just before midday, but it would be nearly two hours before he’d be allowed to take it out onto the track. “It’s a fantastic looking car, and I’m finding it a little hard to believe that we’re doing this. It’s a brand new design with a new MG engine, and I’m being allowed the privilege to be the first person to drive it. That’s a remarkable opportunity and a great honour.

The car is indeed all-new, although it does bear a passing resemblance to the EX257 that was campaigned so successfully last year. This new MG Lola is the first car designed and built to the new LMP2 regulations. The chassis is designated the B05/40 by the factory, and is the first of four that have already been ordered by international teams this year. However, with additional development by RML, and in conjunction with engine specialists Judd, the car Tommy and Mike will drive has been homologated as the MG EX264. This tie-in with the famous British marque is far more than a case of “badge engineering”, and the V8 powerplant is unique to the RML project, Phil Barker was keen to underline. “This is an MG engine, developed in association with Judd,” he insisted. “It has been created exclusively for this car and won’t be available to anyone else.”