The Classic Team Lotus stand at this years Autosport International exhibition being held in the Birmingham NEC is a homage to Jim Clark, 50 years after his historic clean sweep. In 1965 Clark managed to win the Indianapolis 500, the Formula One World Championship, the Formula Two Championship and the Tasman Championship. He was only the second ever foreign winner of the Indy 500 the first being Dario Resta in 1916 and Clark’s win was the first for a foreign team in this iconic event.
Classic team Lotus have managed to display four of Clarks historic cars including the stunning 1967 Type38/7 that sadly blew an engine during the 1967 Indy 500.
Jim Clark was born in Scotland in 1938 the youngest of five children and against his parents wishes forged a career in motor racing. Initially driving his own Sunbeam-Talbot in local rally and hill climb events it wasn’t long before he was track racing Jaguars and Porsches at national track meetings.
Clark made his F1 debut in 1960 for the Lotus team along side Stacey and Ireland at the Dutch Grand prix where he was forced to retire after 49 laps. Before his untimely death during a Formula 2 race at Hockenheim Clark had managed to notch up more Formula 1 wins and pole positions than any other driver in history. Clark truly was one of the greatest racing drivers in history, his name sits along side the likes of Aryton Senna and Juan Manuel Fangio where only personal opinion can separate the three.
The Autosport International exhibition is open to the public on 11th/12th January at the NEC in Birmingham, if you manage to make it, be sure to check out all the Jim Clark classics on the Classic Team Lotus stand.