The Lotus 72E was the fifth and final major iteration of a design that first turned a wheel in anger in 1970. By the time Round 10 of the 1974 Formula One World Championship came around at Brands Hatch, the wedge-shaped monocoque had been refined, patched and pressed into service for four seasons — yet it could still trouble the podium in experienced hands. GP Replicas captures that precise moment in this 1:18 scale model.
Colin Chapman's Wedge: The Lotus 72E
Designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe, the Lotus 72 introduced a radical wedge profile, side-mounted radiators and inboard torsion-bar suspension — a package that was genuinely ahead of its time in 1970. The 72E retained all of those defining features while running the Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0-litre naturally aspirated V8, driving through a Hewland FG400 five-speed gearbox, producing around 460 bhp. By 1974, rivals like the Tyrrell 007 and McLaren M23 had caught and surpassed it on outright pace, but the 72E remained a known quantity on circuits with high mechanical-grip demands.
Ickx, Brands Hatch and the Last Hurrah of the 72E
On 20 July 1974, Jacky Ickx steered the No. 2 Team Lotus entry around 75 laps of the 4.207 km Brands Hatch circuit to claim third place, behind race winner Jody Scheckter in the Tyrrell and Emerson Fittipaldi's McLaren M23. Ickx served as de-facto number-two driver at Team Lotus that season alongside Ronnie Peterson, and this podium stands as one of the most consequential results the 72E would produce in its twilight. The car wore a striking black-and-gold livery — all-black bodywork set off by gold pinstriping — first introduced by Team Lotus in 1972 and one of the most recognisable colour schemes in the sport's history.
The GP Replicas 1:18 Resin Model
GP Replicas is a specialist producer of highly detailed Formula One 1:18 resin models, with their Lotus 72 series spanning multiple drivers and livery configurations. This specific release is dedicated to the Ickx / No. 2 / 1974 British GP variant — distinct from the more frequently documented Ronnie Peterson No. 1 car of the same season. The black-and-gold livery demands precise masking and layering work at this scale, and the 72E's complex bodywork geometry — low nose, tapered tail, exposed side radiator ducts — makes it a technically demanding subject for any manufacturer working in resin.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Who drove the No. 2 Lotus 72E at the 1974 British Grand Prix?
Jacky Ickx, the Belgian driver and six-time Le Mans winner, drove the No. 2 Team Lotus entry to third place at Brands Hatch on 20 July 1974.
What livery does the model carry?
The car carries a black-and-gold livery — all-black bodywork with gold pinstriping — first used by Team Lotus from 1972 onwards.
Who makes this model and at what scale?
It is produced by GP Replicas, a specialist Formula One model manufacturer, at 1:18 scale.
What was Ickx's result at Brands Hatch in 1974?
Third place. Jody Scheckter (Tyrrell) won the race, with Emerson Fittipaldi (McLaren M23) second and Ickx completing the podium.
