the first lola t810 would be completed soon after the 1985 season had begun, with that initial chassis making its competition debut at laguna seca. electramotive founder don devendorf and co-driver tony adamowicz took the car to eleventh place, seven laps down from the race winner. following a heavy accident in practice at charlotte, the car would not return until late in the season. the car had a ninth-place finish at sears point before mechanical problems did not allow the car to finish any of the remaining races that season.