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The Lotus 49 was a World Championship winning car, renowned for being the first Grand Prix built to use the Ford Cosworth DFV engine. The 49B was driven to the 1968 FIA Formula One World Championship by Graham Hill, while a 49C would be driven by Jochen Rindt to the 1970 title.

When the 49 debuted at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix it immediately looked to be the class of the field, proved when Jim Clark swept to victory backed up by teammate Hill who had claimed pole.[1] Clark would go on to claim a further three victories before the end of the 1967 season, before claiming the honours in the first round of the 1968 season to reach the top of the all time winners list. Hill and Rindt would also score victories for the factory run 49s and their subsequent development versions, while privateer Jo Siffert claimed a win at the 1968 British Grand Prix for the Rob Walker Racing Team.

The 49 was the brainchild of Colin Chapman and aircraft engineer Maurice Philippe, and became a test-bed for all sorts of innovations. From its very creation the 49 would be the first car to successfully incorporate the engine as an integral part of the chassis, while also allowing Chapman and Philippe to experiment with aerofoils and wings. The 49 is also noted as one of the first cars to feature a sponsored livery, with the factory Lotus cars fondly remembered for their "Gold Leaf" branding.

Development[]

History[]

The original plan for Colin Chapman and his Team Lotus designers had been to use the Ford Cosworth DFV engine in the Lotus 43, but delays in funding for the project meant the 1966 season would be a write-off.[2] The first two chassis were ready to race by the 1967 Monaco Grand Prix but the engines were still not race ready, although there had been some testing done over the winter.[3] Graham Hill, who almost exclusively drove the new cars believed that the handling was delightful, but the power of the DFV was too intermittent during development for him to be confident.

Debut Delight: 1967[]

The Lotus 49 first appeared after an extensive testing period at the 1967 Dutch Grand Prix at Circuit Park Zandvoort, with Team Lotus bringing two cars for Jim Clark and Graham Hill.[1] Hill was still unsure about the engine but when the Englishman put his car on pole, half a second clear of anyone else, there were few complaints.[1] Ultimately though, it would be his teammate and friend Clark who took victory after a swashbuckling climb up from eighth, the Dutch Grand Prix having been the first time the Scot had sat in the car, let alone driven it.[1]

The following two races saw both Clark and Hill hobbled by mechanical issues (the latter having retired at Zandvoort too with a problem), before the car and team came to their home race at Silverstone. A typical display by Clark saw him dance the 49 to victory from pole having led every lap, only denied a Grand Chelem by a tenth of a second, while Hill fell to an engine problem.[4] After both retired at the 1967 German Grand Prix, a third car was entered for the first Canadian Grand Prix, although Hill would be the only man to finish down in fourth.

The next race was at Monza 1967 Italian Grand Prix, where Clark once again dominated, having started from pole, lost a lap after a puncture before recovering to lead again a few laps from the end.[5] Yet, the Scot would be denied victory by a damaged fuel pump, which left the Brit to limp across the line in third after one of the greatest displays in F1 history.[5] It also ended any hopes for the Scot to win the Championship, although Clark would claim victory at the final two rounds of the season, with Hill backing him up with second at the 1967 United States Grand Prix.[6]

Players and Privateers: 1968[]

Development Days: 1969[]

Final Fling: 1970[]

Race Victories[]

No. Year Event Driver Notes
1 1967 Netherlands 1967 Dutch Grand Prix United Kingdom Jim Clark Won on debut.
2 1967 United Kingdom 1967 British Grand Prix United Kingdom Jim Clark First win from pole.
3 1967 United States 1967 United States Grand Prix United Kingdom Jim Clark
4 1967 Mexico 1967 Mexican Grand Prix United Kingdom Jim Clark Pole, fastest lap and victory.
5 1968 South Africa 1968 South African Grand Prix United Kingdom Jim Clark Last win for Clark.
6 1968 Spain 1968 Spanish Grand Prix United Kingdom Graham Hill
Lotus 49B
7 1968 Monaco 1968 Monaco Grand Prix United Kingdom Graham Hill
8 1968 United Kingdom 1968 British Grand Prix Switzerland Jo Siffert Last win for a privateer.
9 1968 Mexico 1968 Mexican Grand Prix United Kingdom Graham Hill Hill won the Drivers' World Championship.
10 1969 Monaco 1969 Monaco Grand Prix United Kingdom Graham Hill
11 1969 United States 1969 United States Grand Prix Austria Jochen Rindt First win for Rindt.
Lotus 49C
12 1970 Monaco 1970 Monaco Grand Prix Austria Jochen Rindt Last win for the 49.

Complete Formula One Results[]

Complete Formula One Results
Entrant Chassis Engine Tyre Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
1967 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of Belgium Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Canada Flag of Italy Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico 1934-1968
Team Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 F United Kingdom Clark 1st 6thP Ret 1stP RetP RetP 3rdP 1st 1stP
United Kingdom Hill RetP Ret RetP Ret Ret 4th Ret 2ndP Ret
Canada Wietzes DSQ
Italy Baghetti Ret
Mexico Solana Ret Ret
1968 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico
Team Lotus 49 Ford Cosworth DFV V8 F United Kingdom Clark 1stP
United Kingdom Hill 2nd
Gold Leaf Team Lotus 1st
United Kingdom Oliver Ret
49B United Kingdom Hill 1stP Ret 9th Ret RetP 2nd Ret 4th 2nd 1st
United Kingdom Oliver 5th NC DNS Ret 11th Ret Ret DNS 3rd
United States Andretti EXC RetP
Canada Brack Ret
Mexico Solana Ret
Rob Walker Racing Team 49B Switzerland Siffert 1st Ret Ret Ret 5th 6thP
49 Ret Ret 7th Ret 11th
1969 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico
Gold Leaf Team Lotus 49B Ford Cosworth DFV V8 F United Kingdom Hill 2nd Ret 1st 7th 6th 7th 4th 9th Ret Ret INJ
Austria Rindt Ret RetP INJ RetP Ret 4thP Ret 2ndP 3rd 1stP Ret
United States Andretti Ret
United Kingdom Attwood 4th
Rob Walker Racing Team Switzerland Siffert 4th Ret 3rd 2nd 9th 8th 11th 8th Ret Ret Ret
Ecurie Bonnier Sweden Bonnier Ret
Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc. United States Lovely 7th Ret 9th
Team Gunston 49 D Rhodesia Love Ret
1970 Flag of South Africa 1928-1994 Flag of Spain 1945 1977 Flag of Monaco Flag of Belgium Flag of the Netherlands Flag of France Flag of the United Kingdom Flag of Germany Flag of Austria Flag of Italy Flag of Canada Flag of the United States Flag of Mexico
Gold Leaf Team Lotus 49C Ford Cosworth DFV V8 F Austria Rindt 13th 1st Ret
United Kingdom Miles 5th PO DNQ PO
Brazil Fittipaldi 8th 4th 15th
Garvey Team Lotus Spain Soler-Roig DNQ
World Wide Racing DNA DNA DNQ
Rob Walker Racing Team United Kingdom Redman PO
United Kingdom Hill 6th 4th
Brooke Bond Oxo Racing – Rob Walker 5th Ret NC 10th 6th Ret
Scuderia Scribante South Africa Charlton 12th
Pete Lovely Volkswagen Inc. 49B United States Lovely DNA DNA DNQ DNQ NC DNQ
Team Gunston 49 D Rhodesia Love 8th

Trivia[]


References[]

Images and Videos:

References:

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 D.S.J., 'DUTCH GRAND PRIX: Team Lotus Return', motorsportmagazine.com, (MotorSport Magazine, 01/07/1967), http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/july-1967/28/dutch-grand-prix, (Accessed 13/08/2016)
  2. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named RSA67
  3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Mon67
  4. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named GBGP67
  5. 5.0 5.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named IGP67
  6. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named USGP67
V T E Team Lotus Team Lotus
Founder(s)
Colin Chapman
Personnel
Frank Dernie · Gérard Ducarouge · Maurice Philippe · Len Terry · Peter Warr · Peter Wright
Drivers
Italy Elio de Angelis · United Kingdom Martin Donnelly · Finland Mika Häkkinen · United Kingdom Johnny Herbert · Belgium Jacky Ickx · United Kingdom Nigel Mansell · Japan Satoru Nakajima · Sweden Gunnar Nilsson · Sweden Ronnie Peterson · Belgium Nelson Piquet · Argentina Carlos Reutemann · Brazil Ayrton Senna · United Kingdom John Surtees · United Kingdom Derek Warwick · Italy Alex Zanardi
World Championship
United Kingdom Jim Clark (1963, 1965) · United Kingdom Graham Hill (1968) · Austria Jochen Rindt (1970) · Brazil Emerson Fittipaldi (1972, 1974) · United States Mario Andretti (1978)
Cars
12 · 16 · 18 · 18/21 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 24 · 25 · 33 · 43 · 44 · 48 · 49 · 49B · 49C · 56B · 59B · 63 · 69 · 72 · 72B · 72C · 72D · 72E · 72F · 76 · 77 · 78 · 79 · 80 · 81 · 81B · 86 · 87 · 88 · 91 · 92 · 93T · 94T · 95T · 97T · 98T · 99T · 100T · 101 · 102 · 102B · 102D · 107 · 107B · 107C · 109
V T E 1967 Formula One Season
Constructors Brabham • BRM • Cooper • Eagle • Ferrari • Honda • LDS • Lola • Lotus • Matra • McLaren • Protos
Engines ATS • BMW • BRM • Climax • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Honda • Maserati • Repco • Weslake
Drivers Ahrens • Amon • Anderson • Attwood • Baghetti • Bandini • Beltoise • Bonnier • Botha • Brabham • Charlton • Clark • Courage • Fisher • Ginther • Gurney • Hahne • Hart • Hill • Hobbs • Hulme • Ickx • Irwin • Jones • Ligier • Love • McLaren • Mitter • Moser • Oliver • Parkes • Pease • Redman • Rees • Rindt • Rodríguez • Scarfiotti • Schlesser • Servoz-Gavin • Siffert • Spence • Solana • Stewart • Surtees • Tingle • Wietzes • Williams
Cars Brabham BT11 • Brabham BT19 • Brabham BT20 • Brabham BT23 • Brabham BT24 • BRM P83 • BRM P115 • BRM P261 • Cooper T77 • Cooper T79 • Cooper T81 • Cooper T82 • Cooper T86 • Eagle Mk1 • Ferrari 312 • Honda RA273 • Honda RA300 • LDS Mk3 • Lola T100 • Lotus 25 • Lotus 33 • Lotus 43 • Lotus 48 • Lotus 49 • Matra MS5 • Matra MS7 • McLaren M4B • McLaren M5A • Protos 16
Tyres Dunlop • Firestone • Goodyear
Races South Africa • Monaco • Netherlands • Belgium • France • Britain • Germany • Canada • Italy • United States • Mexico
Non-championship Races Race of Champions • Spring Cup • International Trophy • Syracuse • Gold Cup • Spain
See also 1966 Formula One Season • 1968 Formula One Season • Category
V T E 1968 Formula One Season
Constructors Brabham • BRM • Cooper • Eagle • Ferrari • Honda • LDS • Lola • Lotus • Matra • McLaren
Engines BMW • BRM • Climax • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Honda • Maserati • Matra • Repco • Weslake
Drivers De Adamich • Ahrens • Amon • Andretti • Attwood • Bell • Beltoise • Bianchi • Bonnier • Brabham • Brack • Charlton • Clark • Courage • Elford • Gardner • Gurney • Hahne • Hill • Hobbs • Hulme • Ickx • Love • McLaren • Moser • Oliver • Pease • Pescarolo • Pretorius • Redman • Rindt • Rodríguez • Van Rooyen • Scarfiotti • Schlesser • Servoz-Gavin • Siffert • Solana • Spence • Stewart • Surtees • Tingle • Unser • Widdows
Cars Brabham BT11 • Brabham BT20 • Brabham BT24 • Brabham BT26 • BRM P115 • BRM P126 • BRM P133 • BRM P138 • BRM P261 • Cooper T79 • Cooper T81 • Cooper T81B • Cooper T86 • Cooper T86B • Eagle Mk1 • Ferrari 312 • Honda RA300 • Honda RA301 • Honda RA302 • LDS Mk3 • Lola T102 • Lotus 49 • Lotus 49B • Matra MS7 • Matra MS9 • Matra MS10 • Matra MS11 • McLaren M5A • McLaren M7A
Tyres Dunlop • Firestone • Goodyear
Races South Africa • Spain • Monaco • Belgium • Netherlands • France • Britain • Germany • Italy • Canada • United States • Mexico
Non-championship Races Race of Champions • International Trophy • Gold Cup
See also 1967 Formula One Season • 1969 Formula One Season • Category
V T E 1969 Formula One Season
Constructors BMW • Brabham • BRM • Cooper • Eagle • Ferrari • Lotus • Matra • McLaren • Tecno
Engines BMW • BRM • Climax • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Maserati • Repco
Drivers Ahrens • Amon • Andretti • Attwood • Bell • Beltoise • Bonnier • Brabham • Brack • Brambilla • Cevert • Cordts • Courage • Eaton • Elford • Hahne • Herrmann • Hill • Hulme • Ickx • de Klerk • Love • Lovely • McLaren • Miles • Mitter • Moser • Oliver • Pease • Perrot • Pescarolo • Quester • Rindt • Rodríguez • Siffert • Servoz-Gavin • Stewart • Stommelen • Surtees • Tingle • van Rooyen • Westbury
Cars BMW 269 • Brabham BT20 • Brabham BT23B • Brabham BT23C • Brabham BT24 • Brabham BT26A • Brabham BT30 • BRM P126 • BRM P133 • BRM P138 • BRM P139 • Cooper T86 • Eagle Mk1 • Ferrari 312 • Lotus 49 • Lotus 49B • Lotus 63 • Matra MS7 • Matra MS10 • Matra MS80 • Matra MS84 • McLaren M7A • McLaren M7B • McLaren M7C • McLaren M9A • Tecno TF69
Tyres Dunlop • Firestone • Goodyear
Races South Africa • Spain • Monaco • Netherlands • France • Britain • Germany • Italy • Canada • United States • Mexico
Non-championship Races Race of Champions • International Trophy • Madrid GP • Gold Cup
See also 1968 Formula One Season • 1970 Formula One Season • Category
V T E 1970 Formula One Season
Constructors Bellasi • Brabham • BRM • De Tomaso • Ferrari • Lotus • March • Matra • McLaren • Surtees • Tyrrell
Engines Alfa Romeo • BRM • Ferrari • Ford Cosworth • Matra
Drivers De Adamich • Amon • Andretti • Bell • Beltoise • Bonnier • Brabham • Cevert • Charlton • Courage • Eaton • Fittipaldi • Galli • Gethin • Giunti • Gurney • Hahne • Hill • Hulme • Hutchison • Ickx • De Klerk • Love • Lovely • McLaren • Miles • Moser • Oliver • Pescarolo • Peterson • Redman • Regazzoni • Rindt • Rodríguez • Schenken • Siffert • Soler-Roig • Stewart • Stommelen • Surtees • Westbury • Wisell
Cars Bellasi F1 70 • Brabham BT26A • BRM P139 • BRM P153 • De Tomaso 505/38 • Ferrari 312B • Lotus 49 • Lotus 49B • Lotus 49C • Lotus 72 • Lotus 72B • Lotus 72C • March 701 • Matra MS120 • McLaren M7C • McLaren M7D • McLaren M14A • McLaren M14D • Surtees TS7 • Tyrrell 001
Tyres Dunlop • Firestone • Goodyear
Races South Africa • Spain • Monaco • Belgium • Netherlands • France • Britain • Germany • Austria • Italy • Canada • United States • Mexico
Non-championship Races Race of Champions • International Trophy • Gold Cup
See also 1969 Formula One Season • 1971 Formula One Season • Category
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