Lotus 21

Lotus 21
Overview
Manufacturer	Team Lotus
Production	1961
Body and chassis
Class	Formula One
Body style	Open wheel
Powertrain
Engine	Coventry Climax FPF
Transmission	ZF 5DS10
Chronology
Predecessor	Lotus 18
Successor	Lotus 24 / Lotus 25

The Lotus 21 was a Formula One racing car ^[1] designed by Colin Chapman. It was a mid-engined design using a tubular spaceframe structure skinned with fibreglass panels, of a more advanced build than seen in the Lotus 18. Powered by the 1.5-litre Coventry Climax FPF 4-cylinder engine, it used disc brakes all round.

Used by the works Lotus team and the privateer Rob Walker Racing Team in 1961, the 21 was the first works Lotus to win a Formula One Grand Prix, in the hands of Innes Ireland at the 1961 United States Grand Prix. (Previous victories were taken by Rob Walker's team). Customer teams continued to use it up to 1965. It was soon rendered obsolete by the Lotus 24 and the monocoque Lotus 25 introduced for the 1962 Formula One season.^[2]

Scale models and die cast

• Meccano Dinky Toys; No. 241 (production 1963–1969), approximately O scale (1:44).^[3]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

Year	Entrant	Engine	Tyre	Driver(s)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points	WCC
1961	Team Lotus	Climax FPF 1.5 L4	D		MON	NED	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	USA			32^1	2nd
				Jim Clark	10	3^F	12	3	Ret	4	Ret	7
				Innes Ireland	DNS		Ret	4	10	NC		1
	R.R.C. Walker Racing Team			Stirling Moss							Ret
1962	Ecurie Nationale Suisse	Climax FPF 1.5 L4	D		NED	MON	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	USA	RSA		36 (38)^2	2nd
				Jo Siffert		DNQ
	Ecurie Filipinetti						10			12
	Jim Hall			Jim Hall								DNS
	Ernie Pieterse			Ernie Pieterse									10
	Neville Lederle			Neville Lederle									6
1963	Lawson Organisation	Climax FPF 1.5 L4	D		NED	MON	BEL	FRA	GBR	GER	ITA	USA	MEX	RSA	54 (74)^2	1st
				Ernie Pieterse										Ret
1965	Lawson Organisation	Climax FPF 1.5 L4	D		RSA	MON	BEL	FRA	GBR	NED	GER	ITA	USA	MEX	54 (58)^2	1st
				Ernie Pieterse	DNQ
	Scuderia Scribante			Neville Lederle	DNQ

¹ 17 points were scored using the Lotus 21, the other 15 points were scored using other Lotus models
² All points were scored using other Lotus models

References

1. Automobile Year, No. 9, 1961–1962, Page 191.
2. Automobile Year, No. 10, 1962–1963, Pages 198-199.
3. Ramsey, John (1984). The Swapmeet and Toyfair Catalogue of British Diecast Model Toys. Swapmeet Toys and Models Ltd. p. 33. ISBN 095093190X.