1996 / 2009 Annison 'F1-R'

This is the only 'F1R' ever built and is fully road legal in the UK Built by Lola race engineers around a (circa) 1996 Lola chassis utilising new parts listed by Lola 2.0-litre turbo-charged Cosworth YB (370bhp) unit mated to a G50 five-speed manual gearbox Adjustable wings and ride height. As close as you can get to driving a single-seat racer on the road. This extraordinary vehicle represents a unique opportunity for any motorsport collector. A group of design and race engineers at Lola, headed by Russell Annison, were discussing whether it was possible to build a Formula 1-style car that could be UK road registered. This hypothetical road car had to embody the excitement, visual cues, and sense of theatre of a traditional Formula 1 racing car, whilst still addressing the practical road issues involved. Realistically, the only way to be sure that it was actually feasible was to have a go. Being race engineers they had a better chance than most of making it work and set about the project with enthusiasm, however, it was almost 15 years before the Annison F1R rolled down a UK road. The F1R was built around a (circa) 1996 Lola chassis (which may have come from the company's aborted 1997 F1 project) utilising new parts listed by Lola including the forward chassis, rear chassis, roll hoop assembly, suspension uprights, wishbone assy's, steering wheel , nose cone, body panels, radiator ducts, wiring loom etc. It was built and assembled by Lola engineers to the highest standards with customary attention to detail and is an amalgamation of various racing vehicle technologies, using conventional components where appropriate. All service items are readily available. Although during this period of Formula 1, normally aspirated engines of 3.0-litres capacity were used, it was felt that for road use a 2.0-litre turbo-charged Cosworth YB unit would offer the optimum balance. The four-cylinder Cosworth was mated to a G50 five-speed manual gearbox for simplicity of use, while the ready availability of parts ensures easy ongoing maintenance. The engine is presently tuned to deliver a healthy 370bhp, but adjusting the turbo can substantially increase this. Ground clearance was one of the most obvious areas of consideration, and the car runs with an increased ride height which is adjustable between 50-75mm. As with any F1 car, the aerodynamically critical surfaces and wings generate increased levels of downforce as speed rises. Both front and rear wings are adjustable. The net result is a car that quite possibly provides the closest sensation of driving a single-seat racer on the road. To say it is eye-catching on the road is somewhat of an understatement. The owner reports that the car is