Photo: Lotus 70B #002 The
latest addition to the NZ F5000 class has recently arrived and is
sitting in the Motorsport Solutions workshop just outside of
Christchurch. It is a dream come true for local driver Dave Arrowsmith
who has purchased a Lotus 70B, chassis #002 and is excited about the
prospect of racing this summer.
“It was a car I had been looking at for over a year so was happy I could eventually purchase it,” said Arrowsmith.
This
chassis, one of six or seven purpose built F5000 was considered to be a
customer car, possibly the last one sold by Lotus components. Bought
by Jefferson Racing for Bob West it was powered by a Boss Ford.
It
was subsequently sold to Bruce Russell in 1972, Dave Edgar in 1978 and
then to Dave Swiglar in 1988 who has now sold it to Arrowsmith.
Although
it has had no notable drivers, the development of the car is
interesting as it was a departure for Lotus to enter the F5000 market.
