The company had, since the T200 model took it into the booming Formula Ford 1600 market in 1970, consistently supported the aspiring professional racer. Lola was also ready for the FF2000 wings and slicks category (for cars powered by Ford's 2-litre Pinto engine) which followed.

Drawing on its 2-litre sportscar experience, Lola dominated the new Sports 2000 Series from the outset in 1977 with a series of cars that managed to be both very competitive and very attractive and many of them are still running in Historic events some 25 years later.

The next major international landmark in Lola's history was achieved in 1978, when Al Unser won the Indianapolis 500 at a speed of 161.363 mph. What makes this win even more impressive was that Unser was the only Lola in a field of McLarens, Eagles, Penskes, Lightnings and Wildcats. A year after the company re-entered the USAC fray, Unser became the first driver to win all three 500-mile races (the others being at Pocono and Ontario Motor Speedway) in one season, appropriately, he drove the T500 model.