Lola to Grand-Am?

Lola Cars International is set to become the first British race car constructor to enter the Grand-Am Daytona Prototype market according to this AutoWeek article.

Lola appears close to taking advantage of a new rule that allows any existing chassis builder to sell its Daytona Prototype franchise to another company for the 2008 season. Lola is talking to Chase Competition Engineering, one of the seven constructors that were licensed to build Daytona Prototypes at the start of the category back in 2003. Its CCE-DP design has not competed since 2004 and company boss Robert Chase has admitted that a lack of funds has prevented him from racing and developing the car.

Grand-Am boss Roger Edmondson said that the decision to allow the transfer of franchises was motivated by a desire to give companies “a way to escape" if they are not capable of meeting a new entry criterion that demands two cars at every race for 2008. Allowing constructors to produce new bodies for their cars came from a “recognition that some didn’t get it right first time around," Edmondson said. One new manufacturer will be allowed into Grand-Am for 2008.