There are few race car manufacturers who elicit the kind of emotional reaction from people that Lotus does. More specifically the brilliant, risk-taking, some would say reckless, founder of the operation Colin Chapman. Chapman’s famed “simplify and add lightness” philosophy makes people who know a little about racing sound smart when they say it but for others it causes them to ball their fists.
Lots of racers died in Chapman built and designed cars. Fast as hell? Yes. Any sort of driver protections during their golden age? No. No matter your opinion though, people lined up to drive them and win in them. From the most far flung Gran Prix races to the Indy 500 finding a singular maker of race cars that has had the influence of Lotus is damned near impossible.
It’s cool that this video highlights some of the biggest, best, and most sideways Lotus moments from the 2020 running of the Goodwood SpeedWeek 2020 event. The 1970s era John Player Special Formula One cars are so damned cool that they’re impossible not to stare at. The black and gold paint, the noise, the look.
Dangerous as they were, they’re still seductive. Awesome stuff here.
d-late ’70’s TJPS Lotus’ were, IMO, the most beautiful F1 cars ever built. Mario Andretti was behind the wheel of it I think.
When I think “race car,” I think of the beautiful black and gold JPS Lotuses. Every time.
Beautiful cars. But what’s the plural of “Lotus”? Lotii?
Asking for a friend.