Lotus 79
- Constructor
- lotus
- Years
- 1978–1979
- Designers
- Colin Chapman, Tony Rudd, Tony Southgate, Peter Wright, Martin Ogilvie, Geoff Aldridge
- Engine
- Ford Cosworth DFV V8
- Configuration
- 90-degree V8, 2993 cc, naturally aspirated
- Power
- 475 bhp (475 bhp at 11,000 rpm)
- Chassis
- aluminium monocoque, strengthened for ground-effect loads
- 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
- disc
- Weight
- —
- Wheelbase
- —
- Tyres
- Goodyear
- Races
- 11
- Wins
- 0
- Poles
- 0
- Drivers' titles
- 1
- Constructors' titles
- 1
- Specification confidence
- high
The 78 idea done properly: everything moved out of the airflow under the car so the tunnels run clean from front to back
Full ground effect, with the fuel moved to a single central cell and the rear suspension repackaged to clear the diffuser exits
The 78 proved the principle; the 79 removed everything that got in its way. Andretti said it was like being painted to the road. It was so far ahead that Chapman had already moved on to the 80, which failed, and then to the twin-chassis 88, which was banned - Lotus never won another championship. Every team copied the 79 for 1979, and Williams and Ligier did it better.
26 races, 6 wins, 10 poles. Andretti's 1978 title and Lotus's seventh and last constructors' championship.