Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman’s U-turn

June 16, 2016 Staff Lotus, Highlights, Library, Racing and Competition Comments Off on Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman’s U-turn

In 1960, Colin Chapman sought to identify the most straightforward and uncomplicated way of building a Formula 1 car. The result was his first rear-engined design, the trendsetting Lotus 18. Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman’s U-turn by Mark Whitelock, the new book from Veloce Publishing, charts the 18’s competition history, from its inception, up to 1966 – via sensational victories over Ferrari at Monaco and the Nürburgring.

Colin Chapman’s previous attempts at producing a Formula 1 car had been a complete disappointment. Despite being technically advanced, extreme lightness led to numerous structural failures.

In 1960, Chapman decided to start with a clean sheet of paper, assessing the basic requirements for a contemporary Formula 1 car, and identifying how to achieve them in the most straightforward, uncomplicated way. The result was one of Chapman’s greatest creations – the Lotus 18 – a trendsetting, rear-engined car that was to set new performance standards from the outset.

Driven by some of the top drivers of the era – including Innes Ireland, Jim Clark, and John Surtees – it was Stirling Moss who made the car’s name, winning four Grands Prix, including his sensational victories over Ferrari, against all odds, at Monaco and the Nürburgring in 1961.

This book describes the history of the Lotus 18 throughout its 7-year competition career, via season by season summaries, and provides detailed appendices charting the individual histories of all 28 chassis that were built. Full race results are also presented, along with driver achievements.

Lotus 18 – Colin Chapman’s U-turn by Mark Whitelock

Contents:
Introduction & Acknowledgements
1. Background
2. Change of Direction
3. High Torque Racer: the Coventry Climax FPF Racing Engine
4. 1960 Formula 1 Season – Great Expectations
5. 1960 Formula 2 Season – Promise Unfulfilled
6. 1961 Formula 1 Season – Against the Odds
7. 1961 Inter-Continental Season – a Damp Squib
8. 1962 Formula 1 Season – Second Division
9. 1963–66 Formula 1 Seasons – The End of the Road…and Beyond
10. Analyses and Statistics
11. Variations on a Theme
Appendices:
I Lotus 18 Chassis by Chassis
II Lotus 18 Race Record by Chassis
III Lotus 18 Drivers
IV Lotus 18 Teams/Private Entrants

Note: Press release courtesy Veloce Publishing. 
Staff

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