Description
This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at Race Retro 2025 - Competition Cars on Saturday the 22nd of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG. The Lotus 22 Formula Junior was a further development of the Type 20 with a stiffer tubular frame made of thicker metal and other stabilising chassis elements. The front suspension was essentially unchanged, while the rear suspension followed the concept of the ’61 Lotus 21 Formula One car so that the Lotus 22 no longer used the driveshafts as overhead suspension points, but instead added overhead camber links. The track had been widened slightly compared to the Type 20, externally mounted Girling disc brakes were fitted all around, and the car sat on 13-inch wheels front and rear. The 1. 1-litre Ford Cosworth engine, now with dry sump lubrication and at that time already guaranteed 100bhp, was installed at an angle of 30 degrees to the right in order to make the body more aerodynamic at the rear and to lower the centre of gravity. The Type 22 was also delivered from the factory with four-speed gearboxes based on Renault or VW transmissions.
22-J-52 is one of the 77 original Lotus 22s and #8 of the 10 originally purchased and owned by Jim Russell for use at his race school at Snetterton. Unique in its day, the legendary race school ran for five days a week and played a pivotal part in the development of many young drivers including Emerson Fittiipaldi, Derek Bell, Danny Sullivan, Tiff Needell, Teddy Pilette, Nando Parrado, and Jacques Villeneuve. In 1985, once it served its time in the UK, the car was sold into Italy by Ken Booth to Allessandra Ripamonti who raced it extensively at Monza, Imola and the Nurburgring from 1992 through to 2007. Our vendor purchased the car in 2013 from Italy, embarking on a two-year home restoration including an engine and gearbox rebuild, chassis work/ straightening, new petrol and oil tanks, new wiring and wheel bearings. Since completion, the car has raced in anger only a handful of times, with its last major outing being Silverstone International in 2018.
It's supplied with spare suspension, a large selection of Hewland gears, its history file containing old racing results and invoices for parts, and the current FIA HTP papers valid until 2028.
The car is being offered by our vendor under the sad circumstances that medical reasons prevent him from racing any more, and it is time to move the car on to its next custodian. As a fully restored Formula Junior with every detail attended to ensuring its authentic Lotus Heritage, this 22 seems remarkable value at today's guide. Finished in Carnival Red it presents really well, starting and driving on the button, and ready to offer its new owner many seasons of competitive racing. Having spent many years at Jim Russel's race school, #22-J-52 is bound to have been driven by someone who went on to become a household name and the research could be fun.
