The winning combination of the John Player-sponsored Team Lotus 72 and Emerson Fittipaldi photographed at Hawthorns bend during the Race of Champions held at Brands Hatch on 19th March 1972.
The Lotus took victory fourteen seconds ahead of Mike Hailwood’s Surtees
The race was an early shake-down for a small number of Formula 1 entrants with the remainder of the field consisting of Formula 5000 cars. Fittipaldi went on to win the 12-race Formula 1 drivers’ championship that year, never finishing off the podium and seeing off a strong challenge from Jackie Stewart’s Tyrrell. Fittipaldi claimed two drivers’ World Championship titles driving for Team Lotus and later moved to the USA where he succeeded in winning the Indianapolis 500 twice.
From ‘Moments in Motorsport’ by Trevor Legate. To purchase a copy contact tlegate@btinternet.com for details.
