Lotus 32

The Lotus 32 was a Formula 2 racing car built by Team Lotus in 1964. It was developed from the Lotus 27 Formula Junior model. Twelve cars were produced, four of which were run by Ron Harris Team Lotus, whose drivers included Jim Clark and Mike Spence. Spence won the 1964 Autocar British Formula 2 Championship while Clark was fourth in the Trophées de France Championship.

Lotus 32

Lotus 32 at the 2011 Silverstone Classic
Category	Formula Two
Constructor	Team Lotus
Predecessor	Lotus 27
Successor	Lotus 35
Technical specifications
Chassis	aluminium monocoque with steel bulkheads and centre section
Suspension (front)	lower wishbones, upper rocker arm with inboard coil springs over dampers
Suspension (rear)	lower reversed wishbone, top link, upper and lower trailing arms, outboard coil springs over dampers
Engine	Cosworth SCA 998 cc (60.9 cu in) inline 4 naturally aspirated mid-mounted
Transmission	Hewland Mk.V 5-speed manual gearbox.
Competition history

Development

The chassis of the Lotus 32 was an aluminium monocoque with steel front and rear bulkhead and centre section to bring it up to weight. Suspension followed the usual Lotus practice; coil spring/damper units were mounted inboard at the front and outboard at the rear. The front wishbones were slightly wider-based while rear geometry had changed and was fully adjustable, unlike the Lotus 27. The Girling brakes were outboard all round.

The Lotus 32 was powered by the new Cosworth SCA 998 cc engine with twin 40DCM2 Weber carburettors, producing 115 bhp (86 kW) at 8700 rpm. The engine was canted over at an angle of 25 degrees in the chassis and was mated to a Hewland Mk IV five-speed gearbox.

Race history

The Lotus 32 was introduced at the 1964 Pau Grand Prix, where Jim Clark qualified on pole position, set fastest lap and finished first. Despite this auspicious start the rival Brabham BT10 ultimately proved to be the car to beat that year. Clark won three more races, including a second grand slam at the Eifelrennen, and Brian Hart and Jackie Stewart won a race apiece. Mike Spence won the Formula Two class at the BARC Aintree '200', and also won the Autocar British Formula Two Championship. Clark finished fourth in the 1964 Trophées de France Championship.

At the end of the 1964 season, one chassis was fitted with a 2497 cc Climax FPF engine, 4 speed Hewland HD transaxle, and different suspension and wheels. Designated the Lotus 32B, it was driven by Jim Clark in the 1965 Tasman Series, which he duly won. The car remained in New Zealand, being sold to Jim Palmer, who drove it to fourth in the following year's Tasman championship.

The Lotus 32B, the one-off Tasman Series, 2.5 L variant of the Lotus 32

Formula Two wins

Date	Event	Circuit	Entrant	Driver
5 April 1964	XXIV Grand Prix Automobile de Pau	Pau	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Jim Clark
18 April 1964	IX BARC '200' (F2 class)	Aintree	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Mike Spence
26 April 1964	XXVII Internationales ADAC-Eifelrennen	Nürburgring Südschleife	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Jim Clark
17 May 1964	II Grovewood Trophy	Mallory Park	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Jim Clark
3 August 1964	I British Eagle F2 Trophy	Brands Hatch	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Jim Clark
9 August 1964	VII Gran Premio di Pergusa	Enna-Pergusa	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Brian Hart
26 September 1964	VI Vanwall Trophy	Snetterton	Ron Harris - Team Lotus	Jackie Stewart

Complete Tasman Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year	Entrant	Driver	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pos.	Pts
1965	Team Lotus	Jim Clark	PUK Ret	LEV 1	WIG 1	TER 1	WAR 1	SAN 2	LON 5	LAK 1	1st	35 (44)
1966	Jim Palmer	Jim Palmer	PUK 3	LEV (5)	WIG 3	TER 3	WAR (6)	LAK 4	SAN 4	LON 4	4th	21 (24)