An announcement this week has it that Multimatic has sold their rights to their Daytona Prototype program. Lola Racecars of England is now in where they were shutout a few years ago, after they shuned Grand-Am during the advent of the class five years ago.

Lola enters the class when the most dynamic changes are coming about. Changes in aerodynamic signature and a new tire manufacturer in Pirelli, make the 2008 season perhaps the most interesting in the short history of DP racing.

There are those of us who wanted to see the Riley DP challenged for championship honors. Lola will surely now develop a  prototype that will do that. Question is, will Crawford, Doran, and Fabcar/Cheever also step up to that challenge, and is this move by Lola sign a death warrent for Chase, the constructor who was rumored to be Lola's partner.

Who will step up to partner with Lola as far as manufacturers are concerned will be a major question. The new rules will allow an automaker to present to Lola an body design specific to their engine only. This new rule will come into vogue next year, although Fabcar has already presented sweeping changes to their body as seen at Mexico. Though it was not presented as a Porsche-specific body, the car was radically different from the original Fabcar.

Lola will certainly ratchet up the quality and design of the Daytona Prototype division. This new program presents them the opportunity to sell a lot more prototype sportscars in the US, something that they have not been successful with in the ALMS, selling only a handful of LMP style cars over the last few years.

Some speculate that Lola will shift the balance of power in Grand-Am, though that is not likely because of the tight rules package, you can be sure that they will be a major factor.

Grand-Am's racing is about to become even better, IF that is possible.

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