With this car, Jim Clark could easily have conquered his third Formula 1 world title in 1968. Unfortunately, the Scotsman raced with it only for the South African Grand Prix, which he won in January of that year. Three months later, in a Formula 2 race on the German Hockenheim circuit, he lost his life. The Lotus 49, designed by Colin Chapman and Maurice Philippe, had two characteristics that made it extremely competitive. This single-seater was much more than a simple evolution of the Lotus 43 that preceded it. Chapman initially introduced a small rear wing, but in France a larger wing mounted directly on the suspension was chosen. A solution that was however banned for safety reasons after the Spanish Grand Prix of '69. From 1967 to 1970 the Lotus 49, in its various evolutions, took part in 41 races, obtaining 12 victories, 19 poles and 14 fastest laps. Also in 1968 Graham Hill won the Drivers 'title and the Constructors' team went to the English team. As evidence of his longevity, it should also be mentioned that the Austrian Jochen Rindt competed in three more Grand Prix races in 1970, obtaining a success in Monte Carlo, on the road that at the end of that tragic season would have led him to become the first posthumous world champion of Formula 1.
GP-Replicas is a resincast brand specialized in reproducing Formula 1 cars from the past, in 1:43, 1:18 and 1:12 scale. The catalog is very rich, with numerous models added month after month. The miniatures are very accurate, and the brand's designers take into account the numerous evolutions and versions of the individual cars. Collectors therefore have the possibility of inserting reproductions of the most famous F.1 cars in their showcases, almost GP by GP.