1963 Ford Cortina Lotus Group 2

The Lotus Cortina debuted in racing in September 1963 at Oulton Park, where it immediately demonstrated its potential by finishing behind only the larger Ford Galaxies, yet outpacing Jaguar’s dominant saloon cars. In 1964, the car’s racing pedigree was cemented with extensive participation in various international competitions. Team Lotus managed the British entries, while Alan Mann Racing ran the European campaigns. Drivers like Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, and Sir John Whitmore piloted these cars to numerous victories. Whitmore dominated the 1965 European Touring Car Championship, further boosting the car’s credentials. 

Throughout its racing career, the Lotus Cortina underwent continuous development. By 1965, the introduction of a new rear suspension system based on leaf springs helped improve the handling characteristics of the car, while engine developments pushed its power output to around 180 horsepower. This made it competitive against the much larger American muscle cars like the Ford Mustangs in the British and European saloon car championships. 

Though the Mark 1 Lotus Cortina’s time at the top was short-lived, being replaced by the larger and less agile Mk2 in 1966, its impact on motorsports and automotive history was indelible. The car remains a favorite in historic racing events and is revered for its engineering, style, and competition success. Its influence carried forward, laying the groundwork for Ford’s future racing programs with the Escort and beyond.