Lola Yamaha ABT names Mark Preston as Team Principal

Lola Yamaha ABT has named Mark Preston as Team Principal ahead of pre-season testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.

Ahead of the new season, Lola Cars Motorsport Director, Mark Preston, will be assuming the role of Team Principal. This is a role he previously held with DS Techeetah, leading the team to two Teams’ and three Drivers’ Championships. Preston succeeds Thomas Biermaier, who will be focusing on broader projects and activities at ABT in his role as CEO. Fred Espinos will step up to the position of Deputy Team Principal, leading all operations and sporting matters while overseeing the day-to-day running of the team.

Mark said: “After a summer focused on development, I’m looking forward to leading the Lola Yamaha ABT team as we enter our second season, continuing to work closely alongside both Thomas and Fred as we build on the progress made in Season 11.

“As we prepare for the GEN4 era of Formula E as a manufacturer, we want to be more streamlined for the benefit of ourselves and our partners. Lola Cars is continuing to grow, having recently created a Vehicle Science Team, helping us to drive innovation through motorsport to engineer solutions that will shape the future of mobility.”

Fred added: “Season 12 is a crucial step in our evolution as a team. I’m pleased to be taking on the role of Deputy Team Principal as we look to further improve our operations and performance, to achieve the highest possible level on and off the track. We built a strong foundation in Season 11, bringing together the knowledge and experience across Lola, ABT and Yamaha into one unified team that will continue to drive us forward into the GEN4 era.”

This morning, Lola Yamaha ABT also unveiled its Season 12 livery, featuring the iconic blue and yellow colours of Lola Cars. The updated livery of the T001 will be tested throughout the week by drivers Zane Maloney and Lucas di Grassi, before being handed over to Marta Garcia for the second iteration of the Formula E Women’s Test on Friday.

Following testing in Valencia, the first round of Season 12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will take place in São Paulo, Brazil on 6th December 2025.