Autosport – 25 July 2019

look after one car, while – at the
other end of the scale – it ran 13
at the Monaco Historique last year.
“When it’s 13 cars we do have to call
in quite a few occasional Team Lotus
mechanics and volunteers from Lotus
Cars,” says Clive. “We always aim to have an experienced
person on each car. At the end of the day you are sending
a 1960s or 1970s F1 car out and they’re not going around
waving at the crowd. The guys at the front are flat-out
and that’s a big responsibility.”
The competitiveness of historic racing often raises the

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CLASSIC TEAM LOTUS

AUTOSPORT HISTORICS 25 JULY 2019 15

PROTECTING

A BRITISH

RACING ICON

Classic Team Lotus isn’t just about race preparation and

restoration. It is also entitled to some important rights.

“In terms of the business as a whole, the licensing

is a significant part of our revenue, licensing the Team

Lotus cars,” explains Clive Chapman. “There are always

new people each year, particularly simulations and

games – that’s become increasingly significant.”

The licensing extends to model cars, and CTL

sells Lotus-related merchandise through its

website and on-site shop.

It also conducts tours at Hethel and attends non-

motorsport events, when possible. “Often the events

really aren’t commercially set up and we’re so stretched,”

admits Chapman. “It would be great to send a car to every

fete that asks, but it doesn’t really work.”

Nevertheless, it’s hard to argue that Classic Team Lotus

isn’t doing a pretty comprehensive job of protecting the

legacy of one of motorsport’s greatest names.

Many special

cars pass

through the

workshop –

Dance works

on Lotus 25 R4

Middlehurst

(25) has been

one of the

pacesetters in

Goodwood’s

Glover Trophy

J BLOXHAM