Lotus Team

LOTUS LE MANS 1955. Lotus was first formed by Colin Chapman in 1952. Team Lotus became active in F1 in 1958. Lotus Group founded in 1959. Always a dream for his fledgling motorsport team Chapman entered an 1100cc Lotus 9 for the 1955 Le Mans 24 hour race which took place on 11-12th June. Himself and Ron Flockhart being the teams drivers. The race was won by Mike Hawthorn in a Jaguar D Type, but is most remembered for the tragic accident involving Pierre Bouillin( in which the driver and 80 spectators were killed) when his works Mercedes flew into the crowd on the pit straight. The worst ever disaster in motorsport. Team Lotus were disqualified when Chapman reversed the car back onto the circuit following an accident