
Show Notes
On the latest episode of And Colossally That's History! Richard and Matt are reappraising the legacy of one of F1's most enduring cars: The Lotus 72. Named by no less than Adrian Newey as the car he wishes he'd designed, the 72 was a revolutionary machine in Formula 1 terms, setting the template, as it did, for all F1 cars that would follow.
It was also one of the longest-serving and most successful cars in F1 history, spending six years in the top flight (from 1970 to 1975) , and being raced to 20 world championship-status Formula 1 grand prix wins, two Formula 1 drivers’ world championships, and three Formula 1 constructors’ world championships.
Richard and Matt explore how innovative Lotus boss Colin Chapman, working with designer Maurice Philippe, arrived at the game-changing 72, and why it became so successful. They also talk about the great drivers that excelled in various iterations of it, with both Matt and Richard describing in brilliant detail their experiences of watching the car being expertly piloted by Ronnie Peterson - a man who seemed its perfect match.
Matt and Richard will be bringing members an exclusive Q&A episode at the end of Season 3, where they'll answer questions on each of the topics covered. Join on Patreon today and get 75% off your first month - we even have an F1-only tier!
🚨 NEW MERCH ALERT! If you love Colossally AND in particular Anorak Facts, we've got a new t-shirt and notebook design you'll love! 🚨 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from The Race F1 Rewind
In the latest episode of The Race F1 Rewind, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes dig into the truth about Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari exit in 2006, which brought the curtain down on a period of unprecedented dominance that included five drivers’ and six constructors’ world titles and 72 Schumacher victories. They explain the circumstances around the news breaking and explore the conspiracy theory that Schumacher was pushed out, before hitting the fast forward button and speculating on what might have happened if Schumacher had never left.
Peer into the Red Bull garage on an F1 race weekend and the chances are you’ll see Max Verstappen’s dad, Jos, somewhere in the background, keeping a close eye on his son. But how much do you know about the part Jos played in Max becoming the driver he is today?
When Fernando Alonso eventually decides to hang up his helmet, he'll rightly be remembered as one of the finest drivers as his generation - but also as someone who could and probably should have won even more, had he made some different career choices. And that description could just as easily be applied to a driver from an earlier era of F1: John Surtees.
On the latest episode of The Race F1 Rewind, Edd Straw and Mark Hughes examine the formative years of Ayrton Senna's F1 career, and a time when the Brazilian regularly ruffled the feathers of more established drivers with his scintillating speed and unusual single-mindedness. While his later championship-winning years with McLaren were where his megastardom was cemented, Edd and Mark explain how Senna's three seasons at Lotus (from 1985 to 1987) provided the crucial foundation for his legendary career and set the template for the 'young driver in a hurry' prototype since replicated by modern F1 greats.
In the very first episode of our new F1 history podcast, The Race F1 Rewind, hosts Edd Straw and Mark Hughes look back at Sebastian Vettel’s six-year stint with Ferrari and a partnership that promised much, but delivered nothing like what was hoped for.