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Designed by Lotus founder, Colin Chapman, along with Maurice Philippe, the Ford Cosworth-powered Lotus 72 was the longest lasting model in F1, having been raced by Team Lotus for six consecutive seasons.
Nowadays, an F1 model is raced during a single year only before it is replaced by a new one. The Lotus 72 was raced from 1970 to 1975, inclusively. It contested 74 Grands Prix, and took a total of 149 race starts.
The Lotus 72 won three World's Constructor's Championships and two Driver's Championships and is the only F1 car to have won 20 Grand Prix races in the hands of Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson. Austrian Rindt and Brazilian Fittipaldi became World Champions at its wheel.
The “Black Beauty” featured several innovative solutions such as its “wedge” shape profile, a low unsprung weight, side radiators, variable rate torsion bar springs and inboard front brakes.
Nine chassis in six different configurations (from A to F) were produced in Lotus' headquarters in Ketterinham Hall, Hethel, UK. The monocoque was built from sheets of aluminium and magnesium that were glued and riveted together around steel internal bulkheads.
Front suspension was made of torsion bars operated by links to the upper unequal length double wishbones. At the rear, upper and lower reversed wishbones activated the torsion bars.
Interestingly, the 72 was originally designed with an anti-dive and anti-squat suspension. However, in this form, the car had major handling problems and changes were quickly made to make it more driveable.
The car was powered by a Cosworth Ford DFV V8 engine of 2,993 cc that produced 450 bhp at 10,000 rpm. The engine was mated to a Hewland FG400, 5-speed H-pattern gearbox.
The Lotus 72 was specifically designed to work with Firestone's light construction, soft tires. In this configuration, the 72 was very difficult to beat. However, Goodyear replaced Firestone as tire supplier in 1973, and their tires were less suited to the particular weight balance of the 72. The result was that the Lotus became increasingly harder to set up, forcing the engineers to produce updated suspension components on a constant basis.
The 72 contested its last official Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, October 10, 1975 with “Super Swede” Ronnie Peterson taking 5th place, and Brian Henton finishing 12th.
Nowadays, an F1 model is raced during a single year only before it is replaced by a new one. The Lotus 72 was raced from 1970 to 1975, inclusively. It contested 74 Grands Prix, and took a total of 149 race starts.
 |
| Jochen Rindt. (Photo: WRi2) |
The Lotus 72 won three World's Constructor's Championships and two Driver's Championships and is the only F1 car to have won 20 Grand Prix races in the hands of Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson. Austrian Rindt and Brazilian Fittipaldi became World Champions at its wheel.
The “Black Beauty” featured several innovative solutions such as its “wedge” shape profile, a low unsprung weight, side radiators, variable rate torsion bar springs and inboard front brakes.
Nine chassis in six different configurations (from A to F) were produced in Lotus' headquarters in Ketterinham Hall, Hethel, UK. The monocoque was built from sheets of aluminium and magnesium that were glued and riveted together around steel internal bulkheads.
 |
| Ronnie Peterson. (Photo: WRi2) |
Front suspension was made of torsion bars operated by links to the upper unequal length double wishbones. At the rear, upper and lower reversed wishbones activated the torsion bars.
Interestingly, the 72 was originally designed with an anti-dive and anti-squat suspension. However, in this form, the car had major handling problems and changes were quickly made to make it more driveable.
The car was powered by a Cosworth Ford DFV V8 engine of 2,993 cc that produced 450 bhp at 10,000 rpm. The engine was mated to a Hewland FG400, 5-speed H-pattern gearbox.
 |
| Emerson Fittipaldi. (Photo: WRi2) |
The Lotus 72 was specifically designed to work with Firestone's light construction, soft tires. In this configuration, the 72 was very difficult to beat. However, Goodyear replaced Firestone as tire supplier in 1973, and their tires were less suited to the particular weight balance of the 72. The result was that the Lotus became increasingly harder to set up, forcing the engineers to produce updated suspension components on a constant basis.
The 72 contested its last official Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, October 10, 1975 with “Super Swede” Ronnie Peterson taking 5th place, and Brian Henton finishing 12th.