Up Next
On the latest episode of And Colossally That's History! Richard Williams and Matt Bishop reappraise the legacy of one of Formula 1's most enduring cars: the Lotus 72.
Named by no less than Adrian Newey as the car he wishes he'd designed, the 72 was a revolutionary machine in Formula 1 terms, setting the template for all F1 cars that would follow.
It was also one of the longest-serving and most successful cars in F1 history, spending six years in the top flight (from 1970 to 1975) , and being raced to 20 world championship-status Formula 1 grand prix wins, two drivers’ world championships, and three constructors’ world championships.
Richard and Matt explore how innovative Lotus boss Colin Chapman, working with designer Maurice Philippe, arrived at the game-changing 72, and why it became so successful.
They also talk about the great drivers that excelled in various iterations of it, with both Matt and Richard describing in brilliant detail their experiences of watching the car being expertly piloted by Ronnie Peterson - a man who seemed its perfect match.
Got a question for Richard and Matt? Join The Race Members' Club on Patreon (with 75% off your first month right now) to participate in our Members-exclusive Colossally Q&A
