The previous year, they had won seven events (with Fittipaldi and Peterson on the driving strength) and Ronnie's trio of 1974 victories were down to his instant driving bravado rather than the car's fundamental capability. It is a measure of the standards which the team sets itself that they look back on 1974 as a highly disappointing year, never mind the fact that Ronnie Peterson won three Grand Prix for them. It was shelved midway through 1974 and Lotus soldiered on with the 72. Intended to be a much lighter version of the 72, not only proved to be uncompetitive, but too heavy and fragile.

They had won the World Championship with the Lotus 72 three years earlier and they were still using that same car the Ralph Bellamy-designed Lotus 76. Going back to 1975, one has to appreciate how things were developing at Team Lotus. The 78 won two more of the year's 16 races, so Lotus' complete tally is eight Grand Prix race triumphs, This compares to Ferrari's five, Brabharn's two (both under questionable circumstances) and one for Tyrrell.

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