Lotus 78

The Lotus 78 is a single-seater of Formule 1 conceived by the engineers Tony Rudd and Peter Wright under the direction of Colin Chapman. Used by the TEAM Lotus during the season 1977 and at the beginning of the season 1978, like by the TEAM Rebaque in 1978, Lotus 78 is regarded as first F1 " wing car" or F1 with ground effect of the history.

History

In 1976, the TEAM Lotus is with lowest. Tested financially by the oil crisis which involved a fall of the road sales of the Lotuses (the independent source of income of the department race), the team of Chapman Hake comes to cross several difficult seasons. Of money and novel ideas, the Lotus 72, considered to be revolutionary during its appearance in 1970, has being used until in 1975, where it was not obviously any more size to fight with competition.

Beginning 1976, Lotus finally left a new car, the Lotus 77, but its first appearance in race in Brazil proves so disappointing that the Swedish pilot Ronnie Peterson prefers claquer the door to sign at March. Chapman managed to put the hand on Mario Andretti (in delicacy with the Parnelli stable at the edge of the bankruptcy), but just like Peterson, the American pilot tests the greatest doubts about the future of Lotus. To try to preserve its stable at flood, Chapman then decides to launch its men on a technical project of the last chance. The man with the cap is usual of this kind of gambles, which in the past led to the best (the monocoque Lotus 25, the Lotus 72) as on the worst (the Lotus 63 with integral transmission, the Lotus 56B with turbine and the Lotus 43). This time, its idea is to exploit the concept of the ground effect, an idea already explored by several engineers in F1 (and in particular his/her collaborator Tony Rudd of time when he worked at BRM) but ever concretized. At one period when aerodynamics is still an art which for the engineers of F1 concern the instinct more than another thing, those of Lotus have recourse to the blower of the Imperial College, which is given the responsability to validate the cogency of their ideas. Drawn with the broad ones let us bridge side which takes the shape of a wing of plane reversed (from where the name " wing car" or " convey aile" , Lotus 78 makes it possible to accelerate the air flow under the car.

In parallel of the season 1976, Lotus completes to develop Lotus 78. Andretti, which allures by the project of Chapman finally agreed to remain is filled with enthusiasm at the conclusion of its first turns of wheel. To comment on the phenomenal handling of its mounting, there has its words remained famous: " It is as if it were painted on the route".

Lotus 78 is ready to begin in competition as of the end from season, but Chapman prefers to hold it for the beginning of the following season, in order to take speed competition and to be able to aim at the title. The beginnings in competition are remarkable and Mario Andretti quickly affirms himself like the man to be beaten. But by fault from reliability often random (in particular from the new version of V8 Cosworth DFV which equips the Lotus), the world titles return finally in Niki Lauda and Ferrari, less more regular brilliances but.

Lotus 78 will be again used by the TEAM Lotus at the beginning of the season 1978, while waiting for the exit of the Lotus 79. At the time of the remainder of the season, it will be also used as a " mulet" (car of reserve) and it is besides at its wheel that Peterson, which had broken the morning its " 79" its fatal accident at the beginning of the Grand Prix of Italy will have. Lotus will also sell a Lotus 78 to the pilot mexician Hector Rebaque which will engage it under the banner of the TEAM Rebaque throughout the season 1978, but for very average results.

Note

Lotus 78 was officially presented at the beginning of 1977 under the name of " John Player Special Mk.III". But this name never was essential, journalists as impassioned preferring his code name of origin to him, more in phase with the Lotus tradition.

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