In the long and colourful history of the Lotus car company, the brief period between the end of the Fifties to 1962 is remembered as a time of great change, drama, new faces and memorable races.
A decade on from its auspicious start in 1948 the company was running into problems and by 1960 company founder Colin Chapman was increasingly aware that a reversal of fortune depended on a change of course. The result? The Lotus 18 followed by a race version designed and built in collaboration with Keith Duckworth. Not only was this the start of a long and profitable association with Cosworth but this period witnessed the debut of the exciting Scottish driver Jim Clark. From then on the company was to enjoy new success in the Formula Junior Class; the Elite established a role in GT racing; and a new GP car debuted at Argentina with Innes Ireland.
In this fascinating chronological record, motoring historian Neville Hay recounts the events of these three intensive years in the Lotus story, illustrated through extensive and often rare archive film footage. All the major races and personalities of the era are featured, including Moss and Surtees at the 1960 GP de Monaco, the 1960 Le Mans 24 hour race, the tragic events of 1961, the Dutch GP debut of the novel and sensational Lotus 25, the 1962 Goodwood Easter meeting, British GP, German GP and South African GP. Throughout the programme you can also hear from major players of the era including Duckworth, Ireland, Wagstaff, Surtees, Moss, Taylor and Lovely.