Lotus 25

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The Lotus 25 was designed by Colin Chapman for the 1962 Formula 1 season. It was a revolutionary design, the first fully stressed monocoque chassis to appear in F1. An early brainchild of Chapman's fertile mind, the original sketches for the car were made on napkins while Chapman discussed his idea with Lotus chief Len Terry while they were dining out!

The monocoque made the car more rigid and structurally stronger than typical F1 cars of the period. As a result, the car was extremely low and narrow. The driver appeared to be lying down while at the wheel, giving the car the nickname 'The Bathtub.' It was powered by a 1500cc Coventry Climax V8. Such was the effect the 25 had on motor racing, even today's modern F1 cars are designed to the 25's basic principles.

Private team owners, who had been buying Lotus chassis were disgruntled by the fact that Colin Chapman had promised the latest chassis design to them. Those teams, including Rob Walker Racing were given Lotus 24 cars, while the works team had exclusive use of the 25 for Jim Clark and Trevor Taylor. When the car first appeared at the Dutch Grand Prix the futuristic 25 was inspected by John Cooper who asked Chapman where he had put the chassis in the car.

The car gave Jim Clark his first grand prix victory at Spa that year. He followed by taking another win in the USA which put him in contention for the title, but at the final race, a much publicised engine seizure cost him the title to Graham Hill.

Clark gained his revenge the following year, winning his first world championship in the 25, by winning 7 races, Belgium, France, Holland, Britain, Italy, South Africa and Mexico. Lotus also won its first constructors' championship. The 25 was used during the 1964 season, winning a further 3 races with Clark. At the final race in Mexico, just as in 1962 the Climax engine developed an oil leak and with literally a lap to run Clark coasted to a halt in sight of world championship victory, this time conceding to John Surtees.

Clark went on to take the car's final win at the 1965 French Grand Prix before it was replaced by the Lotus 33. The Lotus 25 won 14 races and 18 pole positions.

Lotus Cars

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