Pole position

Legendary Lotus

Lotus has taken pole position at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Few names are as synonymous with motor sport success as this plucky British marque. From the kernel of an Austin Seven-based trials cars, company founder Colin Chapman created a globally-renowned brand, his ability to consistently break moulds and push envelopes resulting in 13 Formula One World Championships (six drivers’ titles and seven constructors’) and 79 Grands Prix wins.

To celebrate this important legacy, and to honour the many legendary Lotus road cars, Saturday afternoon witnessed a cavalcade of Lotus greats with Sir Stirling Moss leading the way in the ex-Rob Walker 18 single-seater in which he scored the marque’s first Grand Prix win at Monaco in 1961. Many former Team Lotus drivers were in attendance including Emerson Fittipaldi, Jacky Ickx and Martin Donnelly along with aficionados such as Le Mans legends Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro.