GRR

This Lotus 21 raced once before being confiscated by Italian police

10th May 2020
Adam Wilkins

First published on September 14th 2014.

The Lotus 21, driven by Tony Best in the Glover Trophy, was raced only once in period. Jim Clark completed around three laps of the 1961 Italian Grand Prix at Monza before being involved in an accident which tragically resulted in the death of Ferrari driver Wolfgang von Trips and fifteen spectators. The car was impounded by the Italian authorities and not released for around four or five years.

lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520209.jpg

By then, the car was obsolete and Colin Chapman instructed the Italians to dispose of it. With hindsight, it’s incredible to think how little value was assigned ex-racing cars. Tom Wheatcroft stepped in, and Chapman agreed that he could have the car if he went to Italy to collect it. It was therefore added to the Donington Collection.

It stayed in the museum until just a few years ago when Tony Best bought it to take it racing again. Hall & Hall Racing has restored it, using the original chassis and boxing up any parts that have had to be fabricated afresh, and it has been used in historic racing since. This weekend it’s in the Glover Trophy for 1,500cc grand prix cars, and suffered problems with its ZF gearbox during qualifying. The mechanics are confident it’s fixed and ready for the race later today.

Ed’s note: sadly it never started the race.

lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-10052020.jpg
lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520203.jpg
lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520204.jpg
lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520206.jpg
lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520202.jpg
lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520205.jpg
lotus-21-revival-2014-goodwood-100520208.jpg
  • Lotus

  • 21

  • Revival

  • Revival 2014

  • 2014

  • Formula 1

  • 1961

  • Glover Trophy

  • Jim Clark

  • Monza

  • F1 1961

  • glover_trophy_2015_02081606.jpg

    Formula 1

    Revival Revealed: Glover Trophy

  • goodwood-speedweek-glover-trophy-ferrari-leads-on-lavant-straight-thin.jpg

    Goodwood SpeedWeek

    Goodwood SpeedWeek: Ferrari and Lotus in classic F1 fight

  • F1 cars at Revival 2024 Ferrari 1512 MAIN.jpg

    Goodwood Revival

    6 significant F1 cars you have to see at the 2024 Goodwood Revival

Shop the Motorsport collection today

Shop Now
Goodwood image