1968 Lotus 41X

I took this photograph early in the Saturday morning in the paddock at the Gold Cup meeting at Oulton Park in August 2018 with cars making their way to the racetrack for what the programme of the event called 'Testing Sessions'.

It's the 1968 Lotus 41X Formula 3 car of Italian driver Enrico Spaggiari with a 4-cylinder inline Ford Cosworth engine. The F3History site says this about the car:

'A “new” car appeared for 1968, the 41X, Lotus took a 41C and modified the front suspension with Lotus 47 (the competition version of the Europa road car) uprights and wheels. In addition a dramatic (for the time) wedge shaped body was fitted, it had a low, wide nose and radiator inlet, the body rising at a constant angle to the rear of the cockpit. A flat engine cover with a slanted undercut tail completed the design. As the season progressed various aerodynamic adjustments were made including a tall rear wing in imitation of its F1 relatives. Only the one car was built and John Miles took it to four good wins during the year. However once again compared with the results racked up by Tecno and Brabham during the year it was another poor Lotus season. In official Lotus records this car was actually listed as the Type 55, the designation it would have when production started. However in view of its only adequate performance these plans were shelved and the Type 59 appeared instead.'

Behind the Lotus number 28 is the 1980 Formula Ford 2000 Lola T580 of Fraser Collins and the number 19 in the background is the 1977 Formula Ford 2000 Crossle 33F of Jimmy Stewart.