Lotus 72
Emerson Fittipaldi driving the 72D at the 1971 German Grand Prix | |||||||||||
| Category | Formula One | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Team Lotus | ||||||||||
| Designer(s) | Colin Chapman Tony Rudd Maurice Philippe | ||||||||||
| Predecessor | 49 / 63 | ||||||||||
| Successor | 56B / 76 / 77 | ||||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||||
| Chassis | Aluminium monocoque | ||||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone, inboard spring/damper. | ||||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Parallel top links, lower wishbones, twin radius arms, outboard spring/damper | ||||||||||
| Engine | Ford Cosworth DFV, 2993cc V8, naturally aspirated, mid-engine, longitudinally-mounted | ||||||||||
| Transmission | Hewland FG400, 5-speed manual | ||||||||||
| Power | 440-465 hp @ 10,000-10,800 rpm | ||||||||||
| Fuel | 1970–1971: Shell 1972–1975: Texaco | ||||||||||
| Tyres | 1970–1972, 1974: Firestone 1974: Goodyear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Gold Leaf Team Lotus (1970–1971) John Player Team Lotus (1972–1975) | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Jacky Ickx | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1970 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| First win | 1970 Dutch Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last win | 1974 Italian Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 1975 United States Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 3 (1970, 1972, 1973) | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 2 (Rindt, 1970; Fittipaldi, 1972) | ||||||||||
| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. | |||||||||||
The Lotus 72 is a Formula One car designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe of Lotus for the 1970 Formula One season. The 72 was a pioneering design featuring inboard brakes, side-mounted radiators in sidepods (as opposed to the nose-mounted radiators, which had been commonplace since before World War II), and aerodynamic wings producing down-force.