Reengineering an Icon: The Sustainable Evolution of the Lola T70S

For over 60 years, Lola, a British automotive designer and manufacturer, has been at the forefront of motorsport innovation.  The breadth of expertise and vision within Lola enabled it to be one of the most successful race car constructors in history spanning many decades diversifying across multiple classes. In 2026, Lola continues this legacy with the launch of the T70S, combining iconic heritage design with advanced sustainable engineering. 

A key partner in delivering this vision is CODEM Composites, responsible for manufacturing the T70S body panels using an innovative, low-impact composite system.

The Challenge

The project set out to recreate the legendary 1964 Lola T70, originally designed by Eric Broadley, while significantly reducing its environmental footprint. Achieving historic certification meant preserving the original design intent, leaving limited scope for deviation.

This created a complex engineering brief:

• Maintain the original form and performance characteristics
• Introduce modern, sustainable materials and processes
• Deliver meaningful carbon reductions without compromising structural integrity

The Solution: Lola Natural Composite System (LNCS)

CODEM Composites produced the T70S body panels using Lola’s patent-pending Lola Natural Composite System (LNCS), a world-first, 100% natural, petrochemical-free composite solution.

LNCS combines:

• Flax fibres sourced from Northern European agriculture
• Basalt fibres derived from volcanic rock
• A fully plant-based thermoset resin system

This material system enables high-performance composite construction while dramatically lowering environmental impact.

Manufacturing Innovation & ESG Tracking

CODEM manufactured the T70S bodywork as five external composite panel assemblies, alongside internal dashboard components, using advanced lay-up and curing techniques. Crucially, CODEM implemented full ESG emissions tracking across its manufacturing processes, providing transparency and accountability in the environmental impact of production.

Key innovations included:

• Sustainable tooling solutions
  • Pattern boards derived from plant-based and recycled materials
  • Bio-based composite mould tools designed for durability and thermal compatibility
• Optimised composite lay-up
  • Laminated plies of flax and basalt fibres pre-impregnated with bio-resin
  • Controlled curing processes to ensure consistent, high-quality output
• Material efficiency focus
  • Reduced reliance on petrochemical-based inputs
  • Lower-emission sourcing and processing across the supply chain

Performance Results

Testing indicates that LNCS panels manufactured by CODEM deliver performance improvements over traditional materials:

• Greater tensile strength and stiffness than conventional GRP composites
• Improved impact resistance compared to GRP and carbon fibre composites
• Enhanced vibration damping and acoustic characteristics

Sustainability Impact

The integration of LNCS materials and optimised manufacturing processes has delivered significant environmental benefits:

• 54% reduction in total vehicle carbon footprint
• 5,546 kg CO₂e emissions saved per vehicle
• Reduction from 10,189 kg CO₂e (conventional equivalent) to 4,643 kg CO₂e (T70S)

These reductions are primarily driven by:

• Adoption of natural fibre composite materials
• Use of plant-based resin systems
• Lower-carbon tooling and manufacturing methods
• Measured and managed ESG emissions throughout production

Conclusion

Through its collaboration with Lola, CODEM Composites has demonstrated that high-performance automotive bodywork can be both technically advanced and environmentally responsible. By combining innovative materials with rigorous ESG emissions tracking, the T70S establishes a new benchmark for sustainable composites in motorsport, proving that heritage, performance, and sustainability can successfully coexist.