The History of the Lotus 72 - The Car That Changed F1

In the 1970s Colin Chapman, Maurice Philippe and Tony Rudd created a car that would change the face of Formula 1 racing forever. It competed in a total of six different seasons from 1970 to 1975, winning 20 races along the way, making it one of the most successful F1 cars of all time. This car was of course the Lotus 72 and here is its story.
Following the development and success of the Lotus 25 and 49, Chapman and Philippe needed to create a car that could take advantage of the aerodynamic developments that were rapidly occurring in motorsport. The 72 would be born out of their work. With its low monocoque chassis, massive rear wings and aggressive appearance, the 72 was like nothing the F1 world had seen before.
The Lotus 72 first turned a wheel in anger at the Spanish Grand Prix in April 1970, with Jochen Rindt and a young John Miles at the wheel. While things didn’t exactly go according to plan at the car’s first event, the incredible Lotus soon proved it worth. With brilliant drivers such as Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi and Ronnie Peterson at the wheel, the 72 would go on to claim 3 Constructors’ titles and two drivers’ championships during its service.
Without a doubt the Lotus 72 is one of the most iconic race cars ever built. It would bring about a new era of Formula 1 development and would solidify Lotus as one of the great teams. If you would like to find out more about the car, check out our article on it here - The History of the Lotus 72 - A Formula 1 Revolution - Garage Dreams
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Music (reproduced under license)
Track 1 - The History (SerjSalkoffStudio): The History by SerjSalkoffStudio | AudioJungle
Track 2 - Inspiring Cinematic Documentary (MetamixMusic): Inspiring Cinematic Documentary ~ Music #156540800 (pond5.com)
Track 3 - Documentary Tension Background (MetamixMusic): Documentary Tension Background ~ Stock Music Clip #145493474 (pond5.com)
Track 4 - Emotional Cinematic Background (TuneLight): Emotional Cinematic Background ~ Music Loop #56279668 (pond5.com)
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Photo Credits
00:08 - Colin Chapman (1965) - Joost Evers / Anefo; - Nationaal Archief - CCO
00:58 - Fast Speed Racing - pixabay
01:34 - Clark at 1962 Dutch Grand Prix - Nationaal Archief - CC BY-SA 3.0 NL
01:41 - Jim Clark 1965 - Nationaal Archief - CCO
02:07 - Lotus 43 2014 - Patrick Down - Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
04:03 - Grand Prix 68 Zandvoort training. Graham Hill (nr. 3) - Nationaal
Archief - public domain
04:34 - Andretti Mario 1969 0801 Lotus63 - Lothar Spurzem - Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Germany
04:40 - Lotus-49c - Softeis - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
07:49 - Rindt and Ickx at 1970 Dutch Grand Prix - Nationaal Archief - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Netherlands
08:46 - Rindt at 1970 Dutch Grand Prix - Nationaal Archief - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Netherlands
08:57 - Emerson Fittipaldi - license purchased from alamy
09:25 - Tyrrell 003 driven by Jackie Stewart in 1971 British GP - license purchased from alamy
09:30 - Anefo 924-6616 Jackie Stewart, Zandvoort - Gahetna in het Nationaal Archief - CC0 1.0 Universal
09:40 - 1971 Emerson Fittipaldi, Lotus 72 - Lothar Spurzem - Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Germany
10:37 - Ronnie Peterson 1971 Hockenheim - [e-mail] - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
11:37 - Grand Prix 1970 van Nederland voor Formule I wagens , Zandvoort Ronnie Peterson - Nationaal Archief - public domain
11:37 - Emerson Fittipaldi GP74 - Gillfoto - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
11:37 - Jacky Ickx, Bestanddeelnr - Nationaal Archief - public domain
11:54 - Lotus 76 - Daniel Herrick LBIPP - Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
12:38 - Ronnie P JPS Lotus - Gillfoto - Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

[@garagedreams6163]

Correction: Emerson Fittipaldi was the youngest F1 champion until Fernando Alonso, not Lewis Hamilton - Thanks to Firstname Secondname for pointing that out.

[@Neilarmeweak550]

I was just about to say that

[@zinddy]

72 was a great car, but the 312t was just a bit better

[@andyventures6574]

Emmo was beaten by Alonso , who in turn was beaten by Hamilton, then by Seb . Seb still holds the record .

[@andradejurk]

Nice to see this amazing car and one of the brst F1 driver E. Fittipaldi, the man tha open F1 to Brazil and brazilian drivers.

[@mreuropa88]

@@zinddy The results don't agree

[@bobstuart2638]

The point of inboard brakes is not to move the weight toward the center, which only gives a slight improvement in the rotational moment of inertia, but to reduce unsprung weight, so the wheels follow the road with more consistent traction.

[@peekay1231]

Also kept the wheels at the front cooler and therefore they were able to start messing around with tyre compounds, slicks had only just begun

[@selcukcilek555]

Correct.

[@NINEWALKING]

When I was a kid I got JPS model toy. It was mot beautiful thing I have ever seen till then.

[@simoncullum5019]

I had one too , I think it was made by Corgi

[@codeREDsim]

Quote from Bernie Ecclestone, ‘At the end of ’68 we had the choice for Jochen of the Goodyear deal with Brabham, or the Firestone deal with Lotus,’ Ecclestone told David Tremayne. ‘I said to him, “If you want to win the World Championship, you’ve got more chance with Lotus than with Brabham. If you want to stay alive, you’ve got more chance with Brabham than with Lotus.”’ Rindt won the 1970 title, driving a Lotus. But he was dead before the end of the season - making him F1’s only posthumous champion.

[@patlatorres7000]

The JPS Lotus 72, quite probably the most beautiful F-1 car ever built!, Having had the opportunity to have seen one in person, I'll be forever smitten.

[@knoxyish]

no that would be the lotus type 79!!

[@CorePathway]

Modern F1 cars look like @ss compared to 50 years ago

[@LDTOK-zs8oz]

Colin Chapman the greatest race designer in history. What people don't realize about the Lotus 72 it was the piston engine version of the Lotus 56 Turbine car. The concept actually started during March 1967 Indy 500 tire tests.Colin wondered how low the Lotus 38 rides at racing speed, so he put a device on Jimmy Clark's Lotus 38 and was astonished to find out the car lifted so it was at its lowest ride standing still. After the 1967 Indy 500, Andy Granetelli asked Colin if he could design a Turbine car for 1968 race and he said yes. The wedge shape concept he got from GM engineer. The Pratt & Whitney engine weighted only 260lbs and did not need radiators so he was able reduce drag without a opening in the nose. The 72 debuted at the 1970 Spanish GP and Bruce McLaren saw the car and said thats going to be our 1971 Indy Car(M16). The McLaren M16 broke the Indy qualifying record by nearly 9mph. The next year the qualifying record was broken by nearly 15mph by a Gurney Eagle which was based on the 72 concept.

[@53jed]

Just to let you know - Tyrrell is pronounced to rhyme with squirrel, not tie-rell. It grates .

[@beastfte2129]

No, “they’re great” is what I think you meant to say. You know like Frosted Flakes.

[@ianlaker9161]

I was going to make the same point. Well put.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

@@beastfte2129 Tony, my man!! 🐯

[@legeekdechepaou411]

And when the world needed him the most, he returned Also I recognize the front grille of a Porsche 917 at the end

[@garagedreams6163]

Yep, that's the one.

[@bradwilliams1691]

Could be seen as the Gulf GT40.

[@Theoriginalramjammer]

It a GT40 bro

[@joshjackburns]

@@Theoriginalramjammer it’s 100% a 917 short tail. A GT40 has a much larger nose than that

[@plantfeeder6677]

Well my censored post stated the same thing. It's a 917 not a GT40.

[@jjanderson8235]

Lotus 72 was so beautiful, I became a Lotus freak. As a 16 y.o. I recall a Texaco TV commercial with Emerson onboard the 72 describing the car... very cool, I bought Emerson Fittipaldi autograph sunglasses after that and skied in them in '73 (didn't grow the sideburns though). 😆 Great technical story w. sims, specs, Amazing video. Kudos!

[@Buckoux]

Increased torsional rigidity and longitudinal stiffness are the paramount features of monocoque construction. These attributes make the car stable under cornering, acceleration and braking giving the driver confidence to drive fast.

[@roland7375]

Jochen Rindt, world champion. Ultimate driver

[@BobGeogeo]

If only Colin had cared more about driver safety... Everyone knew it at the time.

[@bigteninch58]

Jochen Rindt, he was the best!

[@secretsamaritan187]

Rindt, killed by Chapman as Jim Clark was. In later life Chapman was exposed as the crook he was who did not give a fig about his drivers.

[@scottjacobsen2889]

It must have been so incredibly interesting to watch F1 back in those days. Imagine witnessing that level of innovation on a week to week basis.

[@jimleech2364]

The Lotus 72 had a major influence on Indy car racing as well, by way of Mclaren copying the design in 1971. By 1972 most Indy cars had wings, wedge nose and side radiators.

[@chopperking1122]

the lotus 56 , the indy turbine car from 1968 , was a wedge shape

[@chicobicalho5621]

10:35 in 1973 Peterson was by no means a "rising star"; he had been in F1 since much earlier than Fittipaldi, and was 2 years older. It was well known how great a driver ha was, but until 73 he never had a proper car. And in 1973, the biggest problem Lotus had was the fact Firestone and its low profile tyres left F1, and the Lotus had been developed around those tyres, since the Good Years behaved completely different.

[@1222wewe]

Lovely, 1 months ago i got lucky and was able to see a lotus 49, 76, 77, 88 and 95T in real life. Seeing some of the cars completely disassembled and being able to see them up close makes you appreciate the engineering beauty that went in to these cars. The 3d model you made for the 49 is lovely. Having seen the car in real life i can say its really accurate.

[@vipervidsgamingplus5723]

Formula cars are some of the most advanced cars in the world, the precision of the engineering is almost impossible for many to comprehend. Though when you get down to it, you don't have to know the engineering to know it is special.

[@huatseng6037]

This channel is so underrated… amazing work as always and very visually entertaining. I’m so happy you uploaded again

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks for the comment!

[@andradejurk]

Nice to see this amazing car! And E. Fittipaldi, one of the best F1 driver. The man that open F1 to brazilian drivers!

[@fanman4230]

Saw Rindt in the 72 at the 1970 Oulton Park Gold Cup. Awesome looking car and quite unlike anything else at the time. That was the last race my dad took me to. My strongest memory of that meeting was the T70 Lolas which used to knock all the air out of your lungs as they went past due to the bass frequency of the big V8s and a demo run by Jackie Oliver in the H16 engined BRM.

[@firstnamesecondname8280]

Bro I love this channel. Great video. Small correction at 10:23 though. Fittipaldi was the youngest F1 champion until Alonso, not Hamilton.

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks for the correction on that!

[@paulelverstone8677]

There is nothing as beautiful in F1 than a Lotus 72 in JPS colours...

[@everyday775]

The gold leaf version of the 72 is beautiful too

[@carlsaganlives6086]

Form follows function.

[@davidsargent8780]

What a great video, my favourite f1 car of all time. I still have my original corgi jps '72 when I was a kid and I'm 56 now!

[@freddylimantara76]

I have that one too, but I'm 65

[@chicobicalho5621]

The Lotus 72 arrived early and left late. Indeed there is no other racing car like it. I imagine, if Chapman hadn't been so "bold" in 1971 with the turbine idea, and instead had developed the 72 progressively, and if Rindt hadn't died, I suspect they could have won many more championships. And if Firestone hadn't left in 1973, thre would have been a better chance for Lotus as well.

[@jspoons6619]

A lot of if's but very correct in many respects Lotus had a lot of bad events in an age were drivers lost their lives on an almost race by race basis. Both Clark and Rindt would have won more Championships for sure. Chapman was also having to fight his rival teams who feared Lotus's new cars this was a feature through out Chapmans life of racing innovation's if his rivals could not figure out how to beat him they simple did there best to change the rules or get his cars banned both in F1 and Sport car racing he faced these issues. Lotus was the trail blazer through the mid 60's until Chapmans Death were Lotus never really recovered . I Remember getting the JPS Lotus Dinky F1 car for Christmas in the 70's though I later lost it I did re-buy a Mini-champs scale model in 2000 along with a 49 and later found a old 70's die cast Toy JPS that I added to my old Toy and model car collection. for me there is only one Lotus car better and the is the 78/79 series of F1 cars from Lotus again with JPS very much the pinnacle for Lotus. I am sure there would have been more to come if Chapman had not passed away , though also he was very tired of the constant battles to stop having his car banned by rival teams and the FIA. My feels are that he may have moved towards Rallying with his ties with Ford or Talbot he had help both teams out with Rally and track cars before the Lotus Powered Cortina and the Mk 1 RS Escort 1.6 twin cam used a lotus Engine and the Talbot Lotus won the WRC championship. Group B would have been a god send to Lotus under Chapman with no rule book to hamper him he and his designers would have come up with something crazy for sure. F1 owes so much to Lotus properly more than they do to Ferrari yes there are a whole host of other British teams form Cooper Tyrell through to Mclean who have created ground breaking F1 machines But I would say Lotus under Chapman created the layout that still is used to this day in one shape or form. thanks for a very good video.

[@yvan2218]

The legend is back. Welcome

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks for that!

[@englishmaninfrance661]

Chapman was such an innovator in his designs , but they were so fragile

[@namiboosterhuizen6610]

So many drivers lost their lives or had career-ending crashes with Lotus.

[@samarthgupta8770]

Very happy to see you upload

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks, got there in the end.

[@CybranM]

Underrated channel, great video :D

[@garagedreams6163]

Glad you think so!

[@fishytails6639]

Man I love this car in Assetto Corsa. It just feels so right, probably the nicest car to drive. Can't tell you why because it is far from the best in any category but somehow just so good.

[@04dram04]

Lotus is criminally underrated

[@ulysse21]

It was never underrated back then. It's just that they lef F1 a long time ago, the new generation knows almost nothing about it

[@madsjuul6108]

And criminally under prosecuted!! Chapman belonged behind bars for all the people his cars killed and injured

[@chaffy1018]

Absolute quality video my friend, please keep them coming, much love x

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks, definitely planning more!

[@ogladacz117]

WOW the editing made me cry from longing of times when racing was about racing.

[@BensWatchClub]

Would love to see more videos from this channel

[@isaacmelgar9647]

Glad to see a new video from you guys, Cheers!

[@joshjackburns]

Incredible video man ! Sounds like you’re a fellow Kiwi ! I can’t wait to see your video on the 917 !

[@Grenadeo617]

this video has a major mustard/found and explained quality to it, which is to say absolutely magnificent.

[@jiveturkey9993]

When I was a kid I got to see Mario Andretti when he was F1 champion in the John player special Lotus at the Long Beach Grand Prix. It was cool.

[@emeursing]

These renderings are top notch !!!

[@TheActualChosenOne]

Finally a new video! Awesome!

[@garagedreams6163]

Took its time but it is finally here!

[@system87music]

Incredible video - such awesome history!!

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

Love these cars, the team and drivers, especially in JPS colours.

[@Madrat-tw2in]

Amazing video, as someone who loves mustards videos and loves motorsport this is a perfect match

[@ryanblumenow]

Subscribed. Really enjoyed this vid. Would love to know what you used to generate the graphics, the cartoony-like still pictures and the short clips of the car in motion that look like a video game.

[@aidansky55]

This channel is like Mustard but with cars, I love it.

[@T3CC9]

Amazing video quality as usual

[@garagedreams6163]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@iybjs5308]

This video looks ands sounds a lot like a mustard video, and that is one of the biggest compliments I could ever give. Well done mate!!

[@Luisbxkxnnd]

Amazing work!!

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks a lot!

[@owenoceillaigh5899]

Fantastic video!

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks!

[@lucagattoni-celli1377]

Always worth the wait!

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks for the comment!

[@SmellyCloud]

Perfect Holiday present for us! Welcome back!

[@garagedreams6163]

No worries, happy New Year!

[@1nnu3ndo]

Your visuals are so impressive. Combined with the interesting storytelling this is one great video. Many thanks!

[@AlfieGoodrich]

Great video. But it's Tirrel. Not Tie-rell. :-)

[@alexbritch02]

Your back!! Thank god. Love your videos

[@garagedreams6163]

Glad you like them!

[@petee1968]

Amazing production quality - you deserve many more subscribers! Really thorough and interesting video on my favourite F1 car.

[@nealrcn]

In 1972 I was 7 and JPS came to visit. I am 57 now and still remember sitting in the JPS 72.

[@veecee6786]

Fantastic Video. Thanks man

[@saltyshan4749]

Such a underrated channel

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks!

[@zaidkidwai7831]

Love your videos!

[@garagedreams6163]

Thank you!

[@iannock5948]

Fantastic video!!! Loved it!!

[@mikenowland2739]

Brilliant 👍 Just found your channel. You haven’t posted for a while I hope you keep,them coming

[@garagedreams6163]

Still working on the next one, so it will eventually come out.

[@BelialVikerness]

awesome mate, keep on track

[@MartiA1973]

Solid information; had to subscribe.

[@lukebender1021]

Another fantastic video. Great work!

[@garagedreams6163]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mrci9296]

Amazing video,keep it coming! :D

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks! Will do!

[@mrci9296]

@@garagedreams6163 What is your next project about, and when is it going to be uploaded? 😀

[@garagedreams6163]

@@mrci9296 Next video is on the Porsche 917. Can't give you a firm timeframe of when it will be up, but definitely not as long as this one.

[@mrci9296]

@@garagedreams6163 Thank you! I can't wait! :)

[@53sawan88]

The animatons and the rendering , Just Amazing

[@sinasalehi7421]

Damn, that was incredible

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks for the comment!

[@hansjckerkhoff]

What a beautiful made video.

[@theant9821]

Its later results would have been fsr better if Firestone had not stopped making f1 tyres or Goodyear had made tyres for lotus. The 72 was specifically designed with soft tyres in mind but the Goodyears were designed to what the other teams wanted. The rearward weight distribution didn't suit the Goodyear tyres and neither did the inboard brakes, the 72 struggled to keep the front tyres hot enough as a result, which had not been an issue with the Firestones. With the firestone tyres it would probably have another win or 2 in its tally despite its age. Emmo described the 72 car as the best car he ever drove in his entire career. Having only driven it with the firestones. Some drivers loved it, some hated it, and some contradict themselves having been been both highly complimentary and critical of the 72.

[@linkery]

woah man finnaly!!!! i been waiting for so long

[@kirisaki.777]

do lotus 79 next!

[@gavinc.morrison1147]

YES! he's back!

[@beeemm2578]

What a glorious bucket of bolts. Just awesome...

[@largol33t12]

Lotus mechanics said that while the car kept winning races, it was an "absolute sod" to work on! Still, a fantastic career for a car. How many cars were pulled out of retirement to win MORE races? I can only think of one after the 72: the Ferrari F2002. It wasn't ready when the season started so the drivers had to use the F2001 in the first two races.

[@mikemichaelson120]

Dude your content is fantastic Keep it up man you’ll be huge in no time

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks for the comment, glad you enjoyed it. Working on another one, but will be some time before I can get it done.

[@trekuhl3966]

The John Player Special........just WOW!!!

[@t3h51d3w1nd3r]

Great vid, lol I must look up this tie-rell team, never heard of them ;P

[@Swearproof64]

Love this video style! Very similar to a fellow KZbinr Mustard. These cgi graphics are very good! Keep em coming!

[@garagedreams6163]

Mustard is definitely an inspiration. Avid watcher myself!

[@Swearproof64]

A man with your taste should have more subscribers!

[@TheStrstudios]

This video has a very Mustard feeling to it :D very professional!

[@abe.vs.ape.]

I love this channel so much, great video 👍

[@SwashbucklerBonJorgen]

So good! Super informative.

[@garagedreams6163]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@SwashbucklerBonJorgen]

It's just good to have you back! This channel is underrated as. Need to suss out the KZbin algorithms!

[@patrickvonjanicke658]

Great video

[@hannahmillington5781]

"Tyrrell" is pronounced "Tih-Rhell" not "Tie-Relle" just FYI from someone British :)

[@TheCraigy83]

i was about to say the same😂 ffffing tie rell 🤦‍♂️

[@christopher959]

Tyrell rhymes with squirrel

[@madsjuul6108]

God save the “Queen Hamilton 🌈”

[@vincentsouchaud6717]

@@christopher959 2 'r's please.

[@drewbase]

Hamilton.. there’s max now.

[@raoulmaul]

what a fantastic video! despite the interesting pronunciation of tyrell subscribed

[@Athoroughgamer]

The animations remind me of Mustard animations and i love that

[@gohumberto]

That Lotus 49 may be the most beautiful ANYTHING ever made.

[@herbertshallcross9775]

i don't have an extensive knowledge of F1 history , but 20 wins in six seasons doesn't sound particularly spectacular. For about eight years recently, Mercedes had more than 10 wins year every year consistently. Assuming they used the same basic care for two years, they matched the 20 wins in much less time.

[@luisfelipe090909]

Wow... Great work!

[@vok497]

Very nicely done!

[@LemonDrizzleGang]

great video but small correction its pronounced Tirell not Ty’rell

[@brokeafengineerwannabe2071]

Love the Mustard style of edit

[@Athair48]

Am subscribed somehow never get a notification, ty KZbin.

[@randominternetguy]

What about the previous lotus which led to the discovery of anti-roll properties in its push-rod suspension? Wasn't that more of a change than simply being around a few seasons?

[@LoftechUK]

As it was such a great video and well put I’m new on the team.

[@garylloyd4343]

Love the animation! Could you do a video on the Ford Gt40

[@garagedreams6163]

GT40 is definitely one I want to do, but got a few other videos planned before I get to it.

[@Andrew-vx2ls]

Enjoyable presentation with some fine drawing. Correction: the Cosworth DFV was not presented at the end 1965 (even the papers you show that the contract was only signed in 1966...).

[@chrisstevens3801]

Just found your channel courtesy of the algo. Awesome work! Where are tenders from? Games or your own making?

[@clenaghan1]

A brilliant video. Loved everything apart from the annoying thing about the flag on the car being upside down....

[@mdhafiz00]

shoutout to the 3D guy who did such an amazing job!

[@daveblock4061]

With 20 wins THEE most successful F1 car of all-time.

[@JP-iq8td]

Fantastic production, all of your videos. Love the JPS. Is this car/liverie in GT7?

[@marcel13091975]

Not the first time Colin changed formula one for ever.

[@briankay4713]

Love this ...your channel produces superb content.....the most iconic F1 car of all time ...every school boy my age had the Corgi model . .such a beautiful car in either livery . We need more !!!!!

[@512Berlinetta]

The Lotus 72 JPS cars got me hooked to F1 and JPS cigarettes!