Team Lotus Joins Star-Studded World Champions Collection at Silverstone Festival 2025

In yet another thrilling update for motorsport enthusiasts, Team Lotus has officially joined the all-star World Champions Collection at this summer’s Silverstone Festival, set to run from 22–24 August 2025. The event, which marks 75 years of Formula 1, promises to be one of the most comprehensive and nostalgic celebrations of the sport ever curated—fittingly staged at Silverstone, the birthplace of the F1 World Championship in 1950.

The World Champions Collection is a one-of-a-kind exhibition, bringing together Formula 1 cars driven by all 34 World Champions in the history of the sport. A majority of these are the actual title-winning machines, offering an unprecedented opportunity for fans to get up close to the cars that defined decades of motorsport history.

Team Lotus Cars Join the Elite Line-Up

With Alpine, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Williams already contributing iconic cars piloted by the likes of Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Fernando Alonso, Sir Lewis Hamilton, and Max Verstappen, the addition of four Lotus F1 legends takes the display to an entirely new level.

Courtesy of Classic Team Lotus, cars driven by Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Mario Andretti will now form part of this landmark showcase, offering fans a glimpse into the golden age of Team Lotus under the visionary leadership of Colin Chapman.

Among the highlights is the legendary Lotus 25/R4, in which Jim Clark claimed his first world title in 1963. A technological game-changer, the Lotus 25 was the first F1 car to use a fully stressed monocoque chassis—a design that would forever alter the landscape of racing car engineering. Chassis R4, the most successful of the nine built, was piloted by Clark to all seven of his Grand Prix victories in 1963, including his triumphant run at Silverstone.

The equally innovative Lotus 72 will also feature prominently. Known for its futuristic wedge-shaped design and side-mounted radiators, the 72 not only pushed aerodynamic boundaries but also achieved remarkable longevity. It carried Jochen Rindt to his posthumous title in 1970 and Emerson Fittipaldi to glory in 1972. Both the Gold Leaf and John Player Special (JPS) liveries of the Lotus 72 will be showcased.

Another engineering marvel joining the line-up is the Lotus 79, driven by Mario Andretti to championship success in 1978. Often regarded as one of the most beautiful and technologically advanced F1 cars ever built, the Lotus 79 was the first title-winner to fully utilize ground-effect aerodynamics, making it an important part of motorsport’s evolutionary story.

While Graham Hill’s 1968 championship with Team Lotus will not be represented by a Lotus car, fans can still celebrate his legacy through the display of the BRM P57, in which he won the 1962 title—the first for a British driver in a British-built car.

A Milestone Moment for Formula 1

“Celebrating all 34 World Champions to mark F1’s 75th birthday was an ambitious challenge that no one has ever attempted before,” said Nick Wigley, Silverstone Festival Event Director. “Now, the star-studded collection is not only nearly complete, but it also features an incredible number of title-winning cars. It’s going to be a truly special display that no fan of past or present Formula 1 should miss.”

Racing Nostalgia at Its Best

Beyond the static showcase, the Silverstone Festival 2025 will feature a full weekend of high-octane action. Fans can look forward to four retro Formula 1 races, alongside exciting showdowns involving Group C sportscars, historic GTs, and multiple generations of touring cars. The event promises an immersive celebration of speed, style, and motorsport heritage.

As Silverstone gears up for this once-in-a-lifetime celebration, one thing is certain—the World Champions Collection, now with Team Lotus in the fold, is set to be the crown jewel of a weekend that no Formula 1 fan will want to miss.