Deciding on a theme, title or subject for a book can be the first obstacle that an author can find insurmountable. However, Marc Whitelock returned to his childhood and first motor racing memories when deciding to write about the Lotus 18. He recalls visiting the Goodwood circuit, in 1960, and watching Innes Ireland beat Stirling Moss twice in one day at the wheel of the Lotus 18, and then looks into the genesis of the Lotus 18 itself. At that point in motor racing history, the rear-engined Cooper racing cars were defying all logic by beating the established front-engined Grand Prix challengers. Colin Chapman had designed cars around a front-engined concept, but with limited success, so the Lotus 18 was Chapman’s first attempt at taking on the Coopers at their own game, with very positive and effective outings.
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