Model produced by: Spark & Vitesse (Quartzo)
Year: 1972
Driver: Emerson Fittipaldi (Brazil)
Team: Lotus Ford
Car: Lotus 72D
Results: 5 wins, 8 podiums, 3 poles
Team Lotus focused on their type 72 chassis again. Imperial Tobacco continued its sponsorship of the team but under new brand John Player Special which saw Lotus cars sporting now famous black and gold livery. All eyes were on the defending champion Jackie Stewart and expectations were high that he would repeat the total domination of the previous year. He made his intentions clear with an emphatic win in the 1st GP – cruising home half a minute ahead of the chasing pack. However, there was another driver intent on stealing his crown: Emerson Fittipaldi, a whirlwind of talent and youthful arrogance in his iconic black and gold Lotus 72. And it turned out to be a thrilling season of on-the-limit action that climaxed at Monza. Stewart’s broken clutch put him out of the race, ensuring Fittipaldi’s place in the record books: at just 25 years of age, Fittipaldi became the youngest-ever World Champion at the time. He won 5 races in 1972, and Jackie Stewart (Tyrrell) won 4, which was only enough for 2nd place in the championship. Lotus also took the constructors’ title.
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