Colin Chapman: 25 Years On
No man has epitomised the spirit of Formula One better than Lotus founder Colin Chapman - an influential designer and innovator, a tough and controversial team boss, and even a good driver in his own right. On the 25th anniversary of his passing, Michael Oliver explains what made Chapman a legend to this day
Considering that Lotus founder Colin Chapman, who died 25 years ago this week, is remembered as one of the great automotive engineers and designers, it seems ironic that he actually qualified as a civil engineer.
The fact that he turned his back on the design and construction of bridges and buildings in favour of mechanical engineering is something we can all be thankful for, because he left a legacy of accepted design parameters that effectively established the basic layout and concept of most of the racing cars we see on the grids today.
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