Lotus 80
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (July 2020) |
mid-engine, longitudinally mounted | |||||||||||
| Transmission | Lotus / Hewland FGA400 5-speed | ||||||||||
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| Weight | 625 kg (1,378 lb) | ||||||||||
| Fuel | Essex | ||||||||||
| Tyres | Goodyear | ||||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||||
| Notable entrants | Martini Racing Team Lotus | ||||||||||
| Notable drivers | 1.  Mario Andretti | ||||||||||
| Debut | 1979 Spanish Grand Prix | ||||||||||
| Last event | 1979 French Grand Prix | ||||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||||
| n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only. | |||||||||||
The Lotus 80 was a
Design
Ogilvie and Rudd reasoned that to take a further step ahead of the competition, the new car should be designed as one huge ground effect system, starting just behind the nose and extending all the way to the back of the car beyond the rear wheels. An additional ground effect system was built into the nose, in an effort to turn the whole chassis into an aerodynamic device. In theory this would create a tremendous amount of downforce, so the chassis would have to be built to be more structurally rigid than that of the Lotus 79. The 80 also would not need wings due to the massive downforce. Chapman approved the idea at once.
The car appeared resplendent in
Competition history
Chapman eventually had to admit the 80 was not the wondercar he had planned, and after a reasonable third place for Andretti in the 1979 Spanish Grand Prix,[1] Andretti qualified the car fifth for the Belgian Grand Prix but raced the Lotus 79 due to problems with the Lotus 80.[2] The problems with the Lotus 80 became obvious in the Monaco Grand Prix[3] and the French Grand Prix with Andretti retiring from both races.[4] The Lotus 79 was modified and pressed back into service.
It was a massive setback for the team, and for the car which had appeared so promising. However, Chapman persevered with the concept of a full-length ground effect chassis in the Lotus 88.
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Lotus 80 -
Mario Andretti driving the 80 during practice for the 1979 Belgian Grand Prix
Complete Formula One results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Martini Racing Team Lotus | Ford Cosworth DFV | G | ARG | BRA | RSA | USW | ESP | BEL | MON | FRA | GBR | GER | AUT | NED | ITA | CAN | USA | 391 | 4th | |
| Mario Andretti | 3 | PO | Ret | Ret |
^1 Includes 35 points that were scored with the Lotus 79.
References
- Footnotes
- ^ "Grand Prix results, Spanish GP 1979". grandprix.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ "1979 Belgian Grand Prix". statsf1.com. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
- ^ "Grand Prix results, Monaco GP 1979". grandprix.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- ^ "Grand Prix results, French GP 1979". grandprix.com. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
- Sources
- Walsh, M. (June 1998). "Seat of Power". Classic & Sports Car. 4 (17): 88–93.
- "Lotus 80 (1979)". www.jpslotus.org. Retrieved 14 October 2007. (Specifications.)
- Lotus 80 (article, photos, technical details and results)
- Lotus 80 (scanned launch photos and comments, in context of ground effect story)
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