A trio of A1 Team Malaysia mechanics are gaining valuable race car building experience during the traditional motorsport ‘off-season’, with secondment to the world’s leading manufacturer of customer racing cars, Lola Cars.

Shanker Ramachandran, Hairul Ezwan and Mickey Webb have joined the assembly department of Lola’s sportscar division, to assist with the build programme of new cars ordered by customers for the 2010 season.

During the next three months the A1 Team Malaysia mechanics will expand their knowledge of race car manufacturing with their hands-on experience of working at one of the best chassis builders in the sport. The current project for the mechanics is an LMP1 Coupe with the three based in the assembly shop alongside the Lola staff, working on the build of this highly successful model, the 16th example of the Coupe version to be produced by the company. It will be delivered to the customer early in the New Year.

Ramachandran says of his time at Lola, “I feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to learn a new facet of motorsport mechanics. We’re right at the beginning of the lifecycle of a sports car, bringing together the various components to create the finished product, working alongside the Lola engineers/staff on this great LMP1 race car. I’m enjoying the new challenges which this is bringing and gaining experience at the sharp end of race car manufacturer; it’s excellent.”

Ezwan adds, “It is a great insight into the production of a sports racing car. At A1 Team Malaysia we worked on cars, which had left the factory, but here we’re right at the heart of the process of creating a car. Lola has excellent, world-class facilities, the most experienced technicians in every department and an unrivalled build quality. Working with such professional people and a very prestigious, advanced technology sportscar has given me a unique opportunity, I’m very grateful to Lola and A1 Team Malaysia for this experience. “

Lola Cars Managing Director Robin Brundle ensured the trio were offered a warm welcome at Huntingdon and commented: “This collaboration between Lola and A1 Team Malaysia has seen a beneficial partnership on a practical level for both parties. The guys have integrated superbly with our engineers here and have quickly become popular team members.”

A1 Team Malaysia Chief Executive, Jack Cunningham, says of his mechanics, “In the absence of A1GP we wanted to be able to maintain a continuity of training for our personnel. I would like to thank Lola for giving our three guys the opportunity to be part of the build team for their range of customer racing cars. I know that they are enjoying every minute of the experience, and I hope that they are proving as valuable to Lola as they are to us.”