Lotus 24


The Lotus 24 was a Formula One racing car designed by Team Lotus for the 1962 Formula One season. Despite some early success in non-Championship Grands Prix, it was eclipsed by the technically superior Lotus 25 and rarely featured in the points in World Championship races.

Concept

Having devised the monocoque Lotus 25 for use by the works team, Colin Chapman decided to build a 'conventional' back-up spaceframe design which he would also sell to privateers. The 24 was a completely different design from its predecessor, the 21, and used much of the same suspension as the 25. Both Coventry Climax FWMV and BRM P56 engines were generally fitted, with at least one example running with the Coventry Climax FPF four-cylinder.

Racing history

The Lotus 24 made its debut at the 1962 Brussels Grand Prix. Jim Clark put it in pole position for the first heat, but retired after only one lap. Two weeks later Clark won the Lombank Trophy race at Snetterton. Its first World Championship event was the 1962 Dutch Grand Prix, where it finished second with Trevor Taylor. However, that would be its best Championship finish; the Lotus 25 had arrived on the scene and was obviously the way ahead, much to the chagrin of those who had paid good money for their 24. Colin Chapman had promised his customers that the team cars would be mechanically identical to the customer cars, leaving himself free to alter what he classified as the cars' "bodywork".
The 24 continued to be run by private teams in 1963 and 1964 with limited success, and by 1965 only one World Championship entry was made, Brian Gubby failing to qualify for the British Grand Prix.

World Championship results

YearEntrantEngineDriver12345678910PointsWCC
Team LotusClimax V8NEDMONBELFRAGBRGERITAUSARSA36 2nd
Team LotusClimax V8Trevor Taylor2RetRet8Ret36 2nd
Brabham Racing OrganisationClimax V8Jack BrabhamRet86Ret536 2nd
R.R.C. Walker Racing TeamClimax V8Maurice TrintignantWDRet87WDRetRetRet36 2nd
Dupont Team ZerexClimax V8Roger Penske936 2nd
John MecomClimax L4Rob Schroeder1036 2nd
Scuderia SSS Republica di VeneziaClimax L4Nino VacarellaRet36 2nd
UDT Laystall Racing TeamClimax V8Innes IrelandRetRetRetRet16Ret8536 2nd
UDT Laystall Racing TeamClimax V8Masten Gregory736 2nd
UDT Laystall Racing TeamBRM V8Masten Gregory7618th
Autosport Team Wolfgang SeidelBRM V8Dan GurneyDNS18th
Autosport Team Wolfgang SeidelBRM V8Wolfgang SeidelRetDNQ18th
Autosport Team Wolfgang SeidelBRM V8Tony ShellyDNQ18th
Autosport Team Wolfgang SeidelBRM V8Günther SeiffertDNQ18th
Ecurie FilipinettiBRM V8Jo SiffertRetDNQ18th
Ecurie FilipinettiBRM V8Heinz SchillerRet18th
British Racing PartnershipClimax V8MONBELNEDFRAGBRGERITAUSAMEXRSA54 1st
British Racing PartnershipClimax V8Innes IrelandRetRet54 1st
Bernard CollombClimax V8Bernard CollombDNQ1054 1st
Reg Parnell RacingClimax V8Maurice Trintignant854 1st
Reg Parnell RacingClimax V8Mike Hailwood854 1st
Reg Parnell RacingBRM V8Hap SharpRet748th
Reg Parnell RacingBRM V8Roger WardRet48th
Reg Parnell RacingBRM V8Chris AmonRet48th
Reg Parnell RacingBRM V8Masten Gregory1148th
Tim ParnellBRM V8Masten GregoryRetRet48th
Ecurie FilipinettiBRM V8Phil HillNC48th
British Racing PartnershipBRM V8Jim HallRetRet81165810848th
Siffert Racing TeamBRM V8Jo SiffertRetRet76Ret9RetRet948th
Selby Auto SparesBRM V8Paddy DriverDNS48th
Bernard CollombClimax V8MONNEDBELFRAGBRGERAUTITAUSAMEX37 3rd
Bernard CollombClimax V8Bernard CollombDNQ37 3rd
Siffert Racing TeamBRM V8Jo Siffert838th
British Racing PartnershipBRM V8Innes IrelandDNS38th
British Racing PartnershipBRM V8Trevor TaylorRet38th
Reg Parnell RacingBRM V8Peter RevsonDSQRet38th
Revson RacingBRM V8Peter RevsonDNQ141338th
Brian GubbyClimax V8RSAMONBELFRAGBRNEDGERITAUSAMEX54 1st
Brian GubbyClimax V8Brian GubbyDNQ54 1st