Having created a modest part-time car construction business in 1948 based in a small stable behind a north London hotel, by 1952 Colin Chapman’s fledgling company had evolved into Lotus Engineering Ltd., building its first production road car, the MkVI, in 1953. By 1954 had split the company into a production car business and a competition car company, Team Lotus.
Lotus – Le Mans 1956
As a testament to the quality of the new lightweight Lotus MkIX sports racing cars, the organisers of the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours, the ACO, allowed them to enter the endurance race in 1955. Chapman considered this the ultimate test of his cars and drove one of the three entries but they failed to last the course; his car was disqualified after sliding into a sandbank before reversing onto the track without permission from the marshals. Due to the tragic accident that occurred during the race, there was serious doubt whether the event would be held the following year but after carrying out numerous safety-related modifications to the circuit the 1956 race went ahead. The new regulations called for modifications to the cars, one of which required a minimum cockpit width plus a full-width windscreen. Since the Mk IX was too narrow, Chapman had to adapt his design, based around the existing chassis, to create a new model, the Lotus Eleven, and constructed three examples in time for the race. The photograph shows the new Lotus Elevens with their transporter (a modified coach) prior to departing for the 1956 Le Mans; the team with its immaculate cars were now taken very seriously by the opposition The car on the left was fitted with a 1500cc FWB engine and was driven by Chapman while the other two cars used 1100cc Coventry Climax FWA engines. Chapman and his American co-driver, Herbert MacKay-Frase, held a strong third place in class behind a pair of Porsche 550As, until the engine expired just four hours from the end. Car number 35, driven by Cliff Allison, hit a dog on the Mulsanne Straight and was badly damaged but the remaining Lotus driven by Reg Bicknell and Peter Jopp came home in seventh place and first in the 750cc – 1100cc class. The victory established the reputation of Team Lotus and set it on a course that would culminate in Formula 1 and the Manufacturers World Championship.
