1978 Lotus Type 79 'John Player Special'
- Engine
- 3.0L V8 Cosworth-Ford
- Colour
- Jet black with gold livery
Chassis 79/4, also known in period as 'JPS22', is the 1978 Lotus-Cosworth Ford Type 79 in which Mario Andretti secured the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship at Monza, making him only the second American to hold that title. Constructed by Team Lotus and clothed in the iconic black-and-gold John Player Special livery, the car embodies the ground-effect aerodynamic revolution conceived by Colin Chapman and Peter Wright. It remains the sole surviving Formula 1 car in which an American driver clinched the championship, and the last Lotus to win the Constructors' title.
Ownership
- 2023-11-25Auction saleEstimate US$6,500,000 – US$9,500,000
- 1978 → 1983Factory deliveryTeam Lotus (factory)partial documentation
Built and raced by the constructor through the 1978 championship season and into 1979, then held in reserve before eventual sale.
- 1983 →Private salePrivate owner (US vintage racing)partial documentation
Car entered American vintage racing, sustaining a significant on-track accident requiring extensive repair work before being returned to running order.
Competition
- 1978Formula 1 World Championship1978 Dutch Grand PrixDriver: Mario Andretti1st
Public debut of this specific chassis; Andretti's sixth Grand Prix victory of the 1978 season.
- 1978Formula 1 World Championship1978 Italian Grand PrixDriver: Mario Andretti6th (demoted from 1st due to a pre-race infringement penalty)
Andretti crossed the line first but was penalised post-race; the single point for sixth place was nonetheless sufficient to clinch the Drivers' World Championship title.
- —US vintage racingAmerican vintage racing (accident)DNF — on-track accident
Chassis sustained damage requiring substantial repair work during its private-ownership vintage racing career in the United States.
Maintenance & restoration
- —Repair
Extensive repair work carried out following an on-track accident sustained during American vintage racing activity.
Described as having been completed lovingly; after the work Mario Andretti drove the car again in an energetic manner.
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