I have loved Grand Prix racing since I attended my first British Grand Prix in 1968 at Brands Hatch. That race was won by a Lotus
which was a Company synonymous with Racing Success in the last Century.
Having won a number of Championships in the early 70s, by mid decade the success had evaporated and the Company’s dynamic founder Colin Chapman realised that he needed new drivers to help turn things round.
Mario Andretti was already a legend in American racing and in 1976 he agreed to make Formula One his priority and drive full time for Lotus.
The Lotus Elite we have on display was Mario’s personal car given to him by Colin Chapman and almost certainly used to take him to the European races that year. Mario won the Japanese GP in 1976 and the World Championship in 1978 and at the ripe old age of 86 remains a total legend.
