Lotus 72
- Constructor
- lotus
- Years
- 1970–1975
- Designers
- Colin Chapman, Maurice Philippe, Tony Rudd
- Engine
- Ford Cosworth DFV V8
- Configuration
- 90-degree V8, 2993 cc, naturally aspirated
- Power
- 450 bhp (440-465 bhp at 10,000-10,800 rpm)
- Chassis
- aluminium monocoque
- Gearbox
- Hewland FG400 5-speed manual
- Suspension
- Front: double wishbone, inboard spring/damper. Rear: parallel top links, lower wishbones, twin radius arms, outboard spring/damper
- Brakes
- inboard disc
- Weight
- —
- Wheelbase
- —
- Tyres
- Firestone, Goodyear
- Races
- 42
- Wins
- 12
- Poles
- 13
- Drivers' titles
- 2
- Constructors' titles
- 3
- Specification confidence
- high
Move the mass to the middle, get the radiators out of the nose, and make the whole car a wedge
Side-mounted radiators in the sidepods, freeing the nose to be a pure aerodynamic wedge; inboard brakes to cut unsprung weight; torsion-bar suspension with anti-dive and anti-squat geometry
Twelve miles an hour quicker than the 49 on the same engine. The 72 raced for six seasons, which nothing else of its era managed, and it won the 1970 title for a driver who had died at Monza with four rounds to go - Rindt remains the only posthumous World Champion.
75 races, 20 wins, 17 poles. Drivers' titles for Rindt (1970) and Fittipaldi (1972); constructors' in 1970, 1972 and 1973.