Lotus 72: Formula One Icon

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This is a highly informative and well illustrated book that I would recommend to enthusiasts. The only problem is that its format of 30cm x 30cm is too large for comfort and for the average bookcase!

The Lotus 72 was the definitive Formula One car of the early and mid seventies, instantly recognisable, incredibly long-lived and competitive over five of its six seasons in the front line. The greats drove it - including Rindt who was tragically killed in one, Fittipaldi, Peterson, Ickx, even Graham Hill in a private car for Rob Walker.Surprisingly, there hasn't been a full-length study of the 72 yet, but I'm glad there is now and that marque enthusiast Michael Oliver is the man to have stepped up to the plate and written it.A special car like that needs a special book to describe it, and Oliver has delivered the goods admirably. He's already written an excellent history of the Lotus 49; this immense book documents the full history of its successor in at least as much detail. The story of the development of the cars, their racing careers, the men involved with them, and the cars' competitive afterlife after their Grand Prix careers are all thoroughly documented with plenty of interviews and quotes from people who were involved.The photography is excellent, and the large-format layout makes the book a true pleasure to look at - much more elegant than Oliver's book on the 49.This will undoubtedly become a classic work of F1 history and everyone with an interest in Lotus, 1970s racing, or the history of the sport in general should be forming an orderly queue to get hold of a copy.Simply excellent.

In many ways the wedge shape of the Lotus 72 defined motor racing in the 1970's. With its corporate sponsored colors and next generation profile the car became one of the longest lasting and most successful GP cars ever. Michael Oliver's excellent book sets the racing history of this car in the context of the people and the time, tracking the car's evolution and history (both in the hands of Team Lotus and the many privateers). Why is it so good? Well, in part because the production quality and the pictures are astounding but mainly because the author's research and passion for the subject combine to take what the fan knows from contemporary sources and then expand and refine the story to set down the definitive tale of this legendary racing car.