The Lotus 78 was a Formula One car designed by Colin Chapman and his team at Lotus for the 1977 season. It was the first car to fully exploit the ground effect aerodynamics that had been introduced the previous year with the Lotus 79.
Mario Andretti drove the Lotus 78 with car number 5 during the 1977 Formula One season. Andretti was an accomplished racing driver, having won the 1978 Formula One World Championship and the 1967 Indianapolis 500, among many other victories in his career.
The Lotus 78 was a dominant car during the 1977 season, with Andretti winning four races and finishing on the podium in several others. The ground effect aerodynamics gave the car superior cornering speeds and stability, making it a formidable competitor on the track.
Andretti's success in the Lotus 78 helped him secure the 1978 Formula One World Championship, making him the first American driver to win the title since Phil Hill in 1961.
Overall, the Lotus 78 was a groundbreaking car that revolutionized Formula One racing and helped propel Mario Andretti to the pinnacle of the sport.
1:18 | Racing | GP Replicas
The Lotus 81 was a Formula One racing car designed by Colin Chapman and his team at Lotus for the 1980 season. It was driven by Italian driver Elio de Angelis.
The Lotus 81 featured a ground-effect design, with side skirts that helped create downforce and improve grip on the track. It was powered by a Ford Cosworth DFV V8 engine and featured a five-speed manual gearbox.
Elio de Angelis had a successful season in the Lotus 81, scoring points in several races and finishing on the podium at the Brazilian Grand Prix. He finished the season in 7th place in the Drivers' Championship.
Overall, the Lotus 81 was a competitive car that helped Lotus achieve success in the 1980 season. It was a significant step forward in terms of aerodynamics and performance, and helped establish Lotus as a top team in Formula One during that era.
1:43 | Racing | GP Replicas
Lotus 88 Mansell refers to the Lotus 88 Formula One car driven by British racing driver Nigel Mansell during the 1981 Formula One season. The Lotus 88 was designed by Colin Chapman and Martin Ogilvie and was intended to be a revolutionary design that would improve aerodynamics and performance on the track.
The Lotus 88 featured a unique twin-chassis design, with an inner chassis that housed the cockpit and driver, and an outer chassis that housed the suspension and aerodynamic components. This design was intended to improve the car's handling and overall performance by allowing the two chassis to move independently of each other.
However, the Lotus 88 was controversial and ultimately banned by the FIA before it could race in a Grand Prix. The FIA deemed the twin-chassis design to be illegal under the regulations at the time, which stated that the chassis must be a single, rigid structure.
Despite being banned from competition, the Lotus 88 Mansell did participate in some non-championship races, including the 1981 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch. Mansell drove the car to a respectable 10th place finish in that race.
Overall, the Lotus 88 Mansell was a unique and innovative design that pushed the boundaries of Formula One technology. While it was ultimately banned from competition, it remains a fascinating footnote in the history of the sport.
1:18 | Racing | GP Replicas
The Lotus 33 #5 driven by Jim Clark was a Formula One car that competed in the 1965 season. The car was designed and built by the British racing car manufacturer Lotus for their works team.
The Lotus 33 was powered by a 1.5-liter Coventry Climax V8 engine, which produced around 210 horsepower. The car featured a monocoque chassis, which was a revolutionary design at the time and helped to improve the car's handling and overall performance.
Jim Clark, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time, drove the Lotus 33 #5 to victory at the British Grand Prix in 1965. The race took place at the Silverstone Circuit on July 10, 1965, and saw Clark dominate the field to take the win.
The victory at the British Grand Prix was one of several wins for Jim Clark in the 1965 season, as he went on to win his second Formula One World Championship that year driving the Lotus 33. The car's success was a testament to the engineering prowess of Lotus and the skill of Jim Clark behind the wheel.
Overall, the Lotus 33 #5 driven by Jim Clark in the 1965 season is remembered as one of the most iconic and successful Formula One cars of its era.
