Pasta's Livery Warehouse

Japan Grand Prix 1963 - Lotus 23B #2

Added 2024-04-14 21:58:07 +0000 UTC

Peter Warr is now famous for being the team boss of Lotus in F1 in the 80s, but in the 60s he had a career as an actual racing driver alongside his managing job at Lotus.

One of his more famous race wins was almost 61 years ago; winning the first Japanese Grand Prix in May of 1963. He'd been given a Lotus 23B from his employer, and faced a semi-works Porsche 356, a couple privateer 356's, a Frenchman's Ferrari 250GT, a Polish Aston Martin Zagato, a very old and tired looking Jaguar D-Type and 2 other - nearly identical Lotus 23B's. There were other cars in this race, but they were of no serious threat to Peter Warr's Lotus.

The event was ran over 2 heats, as it was the main car category of this Grand Prix (open wheel cars would make their debut a whole year later in Japan). Despite some early battles with the Ferrari, Peter Warr would go on to take a double victory in this race. As his reward, he was offered a cash prize and curiously, a year's supply of cola. Peter Warr hated cola.

I have made the other two Lotus 23B's from this race as well, to be uploaded on separate dates in the future. If I forget, please remind me.