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TECHNICAL FOCUS

Lotus 72 technical appraisal

Author

• Hrvoje Vrbanc

Date

• 8W Special, April 21, 1999

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• Lotus 72, The Lotus 72 Story, six years at the top - by Hrvoje Vrbanc
• Lotus 72, Lotus 72 statistics - by Hrvoje Vrbanc

Manufacturer:	Team Lotus
Type:	Formula 1 racing car
Year of construction:	72: 1969, 72B, 72C: 1970, 72D: 1971, 72E: 1973, 72F: 1975
Years of manufacture:	1970-75
Years of activity:	1970-75
First race:	Gran Premio de España, Jarama, 19.04.1970
Number of cars produced:	9, designated 72 R1 - 72 R9, with following exceptions: after being rebuilt, chassis R1 took serial R4; after the crash of original car virtually new chassis R5 had been built to replace it
Constructors:	72, 72B, 72C, 72D: Colin Chapman, Maurice Philippe
	72E, 72F: Ralph Bellamy, Martin Ogilvie
Engine:	Ford Cosworth DFV
Number of cylinders:	8 cylinders in 90
Placement:	behind the driver
Cooling:	water cooled

Suspension:	72		72B	72C	72D, E	72F
Front:	upper and lower wishbones		upper and lower wishbones	upper and lower wishbones	upper and lower wishbones	upper and lower wishbones
	anti-roll bar		anti-roll bar	anti-roll bar	anti-roll bar	anti-roll bar
	compound torsion bars		compound torsion bars	compound torsion bars	compound torsion bars	compound torsion bars
	telescopic dampers		telescopic dampers	telescopic dampers	telescopic dampers	telescopic dampers
	anti-dive		anti-dive
Rear:	upper link		upper link	upper link	upper link	upper link
	lower wishbone		lower wishbone	lower wishbone	lower parallel links	lower parallel links
	single radius rod		single radius rod	single radius rod	twin radius rods	twin radius rods
	anti-roll bar		anti-roll bar	anti-roll bar	anti-roll bar	anti-roll bar
	compound torsion bars		compound torsion bars	compound torsion bars	compound torsion bars	coil springs
	telescopic dampers		telescopic dampers	telescopic dampers	telescopic dampers	telescopic dampers
	anti-squat