The F1 Lotus that could have been.

[literarymadness]

This could have been Chapman's last hurrah in F1.

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2020/01/02/infamous-one-of-two-lotus-88

[BDA]

I think the one true indication of real race car engineering genius is to be disqualified - sorry Adrian Newey and Gordon Murray (Murray's BT46B was blatant theft of the idea behind Jim Hall's Chaparral 2J). It's interesting to be reminded of how similar the competitor's objections to genius was. In the case of Chapman's 88 and Hall's 2J was that everybody would have to adopt the new technology at great cost (thank goodness the cost of F1 has been restrained!). In the case of the 2J, it was even argued, by McLaren (!), that Chaparral would end up dominating Can Am and ruin the series (this, after McLaren had won the virtually all of the previous twenty Can Ams!).

It's turning out that 2020, and January 2020 in particular, will be big for auto auctions! Chapman's 88 and the one remaining genuine Bullitt Mustang both go on the block in January!

[Roger]

Just a point of historical fact, the Brabham BT46B was never disqualified. It won the only GP in which it ran, and was the voluntarily withdrawn.
There have been suggestions that Ecclestone agreed to withdraw when he saw Lotus' counter to the 46B, which would have been fans in the after end of the side tunnels of the 79. Both he and Chapman knew that this development was a short trip to nowhere.

[Lou Drozdowski]

ROI...Return on investment

[BDA]

Just a point of historical fact, the Brabham BT46B was never disqualified. It won the only GP in which it ran, and was the voluntarily withdrawn.
There have been suggestions that Ecclestone agreed to withdraw when he saw Lotus' counter to the 46B, which would have been fans in the after end of the side tunnels of the 79. Both he and Chapman knew that this development was a short trip to nowhere.

Thanks for the clarification, Roger.