CELEBRATIONS AS COLIN CHAPMAN CBE IS RECOGNISED FOR HIS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL GENIUS
27th February 2013.- Colin Chapman CBE, the Lotus founder and engineer was recognised for his contribution to the automotive and motorsport industry at the 2013 Motor Sport Magazine Hall of Fame annual inauguration event, attended by Colin’s son and Classic Team Lotus founder, Clive Chapman.
The motorsport glitterati attended a star-studded evening at the prestigious Royal Opera House where this outstanding engineer and visionary who became known for his technical innovations and Formula 1 ‘firsts’ was celebrated.
Driven initially by his desire for motor racing, Colin Chapman built his first racing car in 1948 in a garage belonging to his girlfriend’s father. Now, over 60 years later Lotus has become both a class-leading manufacturer of desired sports cars and a globally respected automotive engineering consultancy. Team Lotus, the racing team Chapman formed went onto win seven Formula One Constructor’s Championships and six Drivers’ Championship titles. Today, the Lotus name in F1® has competed in over 500 Grand Prix races and had 80 Grand Prix wins. The 80th win was scooped last season when Lotus F1® driver Kimi Räikkönen stormed to victory during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Chapman’s genius saw him exploit engineering principles, applying them in new and innovative ways that would give his team the competitive edge on the circuit. Whilst a few of the innovations were banned, others went onto revolutionise the sport and still underpin F1® today.
Lotus List of Firsts..
- First to use a sequential transmission in F1, Type 12 in 1957
- First to use reclining driving position – Type 21 in 1961
- First to put the spring damper units inboard for improved aerodynamics on the Type 21 1961
- First to use a fully stressed monocoque chassis – Type 25 in 1962
- First to introduce aircraft style bag tanks for fuel (big safety improvement) Type 25 1962
- First to “mould” the car precisely to the driver size and shape – Type 25 in 1962
- First to successfully use the engine as a structural member – Type 43 in 1966
- First in F1® to use full sponsors colour schemes – Type 49 in 1968
- First in F1® to use a wedge shape front – Type 63 in 1969
- First in F1® to use side mounted radiators – Type 72 in 1970
- First to use a multi-element rear wing – Type 72 in 1970
- First to introduce left foot braking and automatic clutch operation to F1 with the “four • pedal” Type 76 in 1974
- First to manage airflow under the car including ground effects – Type 78 in 1977
- First to introduced the concept of a rear diffuser on the Type 80 in 1979.
- First to design a carbon fibre monocoque – Type 88 in 1981
- First to use twin chassis – Type 88 in 1981
- First to use active suspension – Type 92 in 1983
- First to use aerodynamic bargeboards – Type 97T in 1985
This great accolade sees Colin Chapman alongside other 2013 hall of fame inductees Niki Lauda, Damon Hill OBE, Graham Hill OBE, and Tom Kristensen join other similarly revered motorsport greats.
About Lotus
Group Lotus plc, is based in Norfolk, UK, and has three operating divisions: Lotus Cars, Lotus Engineering and Lotus Racing.
Lotus Cars builds world class, high performance sports cars including the award-winning Evora, the iconic Elise and the stunning Exige.
Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world’s OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and is an internationally recognised automotive engineering consultancy. Global facilities include those in the US, China and offices in Germany and Japan. Lotus is a global high-tech company, committed to driving forward technology for both Lotus Cars and its Engineering clients, spearheading research into such areas as hybrids, electric vehicles and renewable fuels.
Lotus Racing is the motorsport division of Group Lotus Plc. It builds and develops vehicles for GT racing with the Evora GX, GTC, GT4, and GTS, in addition to racing vehicles such as the Exige V6 Cup and Elise Cup cars. PETRONAS is the Official Lubricants Partner for Lotus Racing vehicles competing in various high profile international GT categories. Lotus also competes in F1® with the Lotus F1 Team, racing in the iconic Black and Gold Livery.
Lotus Originals is the retail operation for all of Lotus’ non-car products. A diverse collection of luxury apparel, luggage, gifts, toys and limited edition collectables can be bought online at www.lotusoriginals.com or at any of the dedicated Lotus Originals outlets including the flagship Regent Street store in London’s Piccadilly.
For more information about Group Lotus please contact:
Text and photograph by: Lotus.
