The 1974 French Grand Prix, held on 7 July at Circuit de Dijon-Prenois, was the eighth round of that year's Formula One World Championship. Ronnie Peterson crossed the line first in the Lotus 72E carrying race number 1, delivering Team Lotus a result that underlined the car's competitiveness through the middle portion of the season. Peterson would close out 1974 third in the Drivers' Championship. This GP Replicas 1:18 scale model car documents that specific, result-verified moment.
The Lotus 72E: Colin Chapman's Long-Running Revolution
Designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe, the Lotus 72 entered Formula 1 in 1970 and was progressively refined through variants 72A to 72E. The 72E, the final and longest-serving iteration, raced from 1973 through 1975. Its architecture was radical: a chisel nose, side-mounted radiators and inboard front brakes packaged the aerodynamics and mechanicals in a way that had no contemporary equivalent. Power came from the Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre V8, paired with a Hewland FG400 gearbox — the combination that defined the privateer F1 era.
Race Number 1 at Dijon: Peterson in 1974
Ronnie Peterson carried race number 1 for Team Lotus throughout 1974, reflecting his standing as lead driver. His victory at Dijon on 7 July was one of two wins he accumulated that season and ranks among the most celebrated results of his career. The black-and-gold livery — introduced on the Lotus 72 in 1972 — was at the height of its visual impact by mid-1974, making Peterson's Dijon win a defining image of the period.
The GP Replicas 1:18 Scale Model
GP Replicas is known for highly detailed resin Formula 1 replicas in 1:18. This model is catalogued specifically as the Lotus 72E No. 1 driven by Ronnie Peterson to victory at the 1974 French Grand Prix — not a generic livery release but a race-specific, result-documented replica. The black-and-gold colour scheme and the period-correct No. 1 roundel make this a focused piece for collectors with an interest in Peterson, in Lotus's 1970s history, or in the black-and-gold livery as a design landmark.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What race does this model represent?
It represents the Lotus 72E No. 1 driven by Ronnie Peterson to first place at the 1974 French Grand Prix, held on 7 July 1974 at Circuit de Dijon-Prenois — the eighth round of that season's Formula One World Championship.
Who was Ronnie Peterson in 1974?
Peterson was the lead driver for Team Lotus in 1974, carrying race number 1. He won two Grands Prix that season, including Dijon, and finished third in the Drivers' Championship.
Who makes this model?
The model is produced by GP Replicas, a manufacturer specialising in highly detailed Formula 1 replicas at 1:18.
