Jump to content

Lotus 76

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Formula One racecar. For the Type 76 road car, seeLotus Eclat.

Lotus 76 (John Player Special Mk.I)
The Lotus 76
ConstructorTeam Lotus
Designer(s)Colin Chapman(technical director)
Ralph Bellamy(chief designer)
PredecessorLotus 72
SuccessorLotus 77
Technical specifications[1]
Axle track1,473 mm (58.0 in) front, 1,575 mm (62.0 in) rear
Wheelbase2,565 mm (101.0 in)
EngineFord Cosworth DFV2,993 cc (182.6 cu in)V8,NA,mid-mounted
TransmissionHewland-Lotus5-speedmanual gearbox
Weight578 kg (1,274 lb)
FuelDuckhams
TyresGoodyear
Competition history
Notable entrantsJohn PlayerTeam Lotus
Notable driversSwedenRonnie Peterson
BelgiumJacky Ickx
Debut1974 South African Grand Prix
Last event1974 United States Grand Prix
RacesWinsPodiumsPolesF/Laps
70000
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

TheLotus 76is aFormula Onecar designed byColin Chapman,Tony RuddandRalph Bellamyand used byTeam Lotusin the1974 Formula One season.

Development[edit]

Side view of the Lotus 76, showing the bi-plane rear wing.

The 76 was intended to be a more advanced version of theLotus 72,powered by theFord Cosworth DFVand featuring modified aerodynamics, a lighter chassis, longer wheelbase and a narrower, lower monocoque. The car also featured a bi-plane rear wing, designed to increase rear downforce and stability. Additionally, it had four pedals and an electronically operated clutch, which was the precursor to the modern semi-automatic gearboxes seen on today's F1 cars, with the control mounted into the gearstick which theoretically speeded up gear changes. The 76 was seen as a major technological breakthrough by Lotus. Outwardly, the car looked sleek and impressive. Internally, the suspension set up andinboard brakepositioning were carried over from the 72. The car's development had been paid for by its title sponsorJohn Player Special,so the 76 was designated the "John Player Special Mk I".

After initial tests byRonnie PetersonandJacky Ickx,both drivers complained that the car lacked 'feel' and that the electronic clutch was giving problems. The gearchange was modified, but both drivers persisted in claiming it was no better than the conventional clutch setup. Other problems with the engine installation were encountered, which led to mechanical failures and the car's weight bias being out of sync.

Racing history[edit]

After the 72 was used at the first two races of the 1974 World Championship, the 76 made its debut at theSouth African Grand Prix.Ickx qualified 10th and Peterson 16th, before a disastrous race saw the two collide early on, Peterson retiring immediately and Ickx eventually succumbing to brake failure.[2]TheSpanish Grand Prixwas more promising, Peterson qualifying second and Ickx fifth, and the Swede leading until his engine overheated, while Ickx also ran strongly before suffering another brake failure.[3]Then, at theBelgian Grand Prix,Peterson qualified fifth before retiring with a fuel leak, while in his home race Ickx could only qualify 16th before his engine overheated.[4]Afterwards, both drivers insisted on going back to the 72, with which Peterson won inMonacoandFrance.

Chapman responded by upgrading the 76 to 'B' specification, with enlarged sidepods and better cooling. The revised car first appeared at theGerman Grand Prix,Peterson qualifying eighth and finishing fourth, just ahead of Ickx in the 72.[5]Peterson then drove the 72 in theAustrianandItalian Grands Prix(winning the latter), leaving Ickx to drive the 76 in these races: the Belgian could only qualify 22nd in Austria and retired after a collision withPatrick Depailler'sTyrrell,[6][7]while in Italy he qualified 16th before retiring with a broken throttle linkage.[8]

Both drivers then used the 72 for the final two races of the season, though the 76 was given one last drive in theUnited States Grand Prix,when Lotus made a third entry forTim Schenken.The Australian driver failed to qualify, but nonetheless started the race, completing six laps before being disqualified.[9]

The team eventually had to accept that the 76 was a step in the wrong direction, and the whole project was scrapped in favour of keeping the 72 competitive. The 72 would go on to be used throughout the1975 season.

Complete Formula One World Championship results[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Points WCC
1974 John PlayerTeam Lotus FordCosworth DFV G ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN USA 421 4th
Ronnie Peterson Ret Ret Ret 4
Jacky Ickx Ret Ret Ret Ret Ret
Tim Schenken DSQ
Source:[10]

^139 points scored using theLotus 72.

Non-Championship results[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Engine Tyres Driver 1 2 3
1974 John PlayerTeam Lotus FordCosworth DFV G PRE ROC INT
Ronnie Peterson Ret
Source:[11]

References[edit]

  1. ^"Lotus 76".statsf1.com.Retrieved9 May2015.
  2. ^"Grand Prix Results: South African GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  3. ^"Grand Prix Results: Spanish GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  4. ^"Grand Prix Results: Belgian GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  5. ^"Grand Prix Results: German GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  6. ^"Grand Prix Results: Austrian GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  7. ^Jenkinson, Denis(October 1974)."The Austrian Grand Prix: Reutemann all the way".Motor Sportmagazine archive.p. 44.Retrieved20 October2017.
  8. ^"Grand Prix Results: Italian GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  9. ^"Grand Prix Results: United States GP, 1974".Grandprix.com.Retrieved13 December2015.
  10. ^Small, Steve (1994).The Guinness Complete Grand Prix Who's Who.Guinness. pp. 197, 289 and 340.ISBN0851127029.
  11. ^"1974 Non-World Championship Grands Prix".silhouet.com.Retrieved13 January2017.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lotus_76&oldid=1183943625"