Blistering £115k supercar with 170mph top speed and 1960s gear stick unveiled in tribute to Brit racing legend Jim Clark
A £115,000 supercar capable of clocking speeds of 170mph has been unveiled in tribute to legendary British racing driver Jim Clark.
Manufacturer Lotus has created the luxury sports vehicle to honour “one of the greatest drivers of all time” in collaboration with the Jim Clark Trust.
Clark, who drove for Team Lotus, inspired a generation with his courage and skill and his down-to-earth attitude earned him millions of fans around the world.
Regarded as one of the finest racing drivers of all time, he won the Formula One World Championship in 1963 and 1965.
Also in 1965 he became the only driver to win the F1 title and Indianapolis 500, the biggest racing event in the US, in the same year.
Clark’s death in a crash at Hockenheim, Germany, in 1968 at the age of 32 stunned the sport and led to new safety measures being put in place.
The Lotus Emira Clark Edition, which was officially unveiled at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix on Sunday, is limited to just 60 cars worldwide.
The car is based on the Lotus Emira V6 and combines the brand’s sporting performance with a stylish tribute to the Scottish racing legend and his Lotus racing cars.
It comes finished in Clark Racing Green with a contrasting black roof, silver mirrors and yellow racing stripe, which draws its inspiration from Clark’s own Lotus Type 38 with which he won the Indianapolis 500.
The Emira Clark Edition also has a 1960s-style wooden gear knob and special commemorative Jim Clark badging featuring Clark’s personalised tartan from Lochcarron.
Additional details complement the interior, including a Jim Clark signature on the dashboard and Team Lotus detailing on the seats.
The 3.5-litre car can from 0-62mph is dealt with in 4.2 seconds and has a top speed of 170mph.
The car, which is priced at £115,000 in the UK, has been released to mark 60 years since Clark’s record-breaking 1965 season.
In a statement, Lotus said: “The legacy of Jim Clark and Team Lotus is forever etched into the history of motorsport.
“This unparalleled success story serves as the inspiration behind the creation of the Lotus Emira Clark Edition – a fitting tribute to a driver whose achievements continue to define excellence and innovation in racing.
“With the Emira Clark Edition, Lotus pays tribute to one of the most iconic drivers in the history of motorsport.
“The combination of exclusive design and uncompromising performance makes this limited edition a coveted collector’s item for car enthusiasts worldwide.”
Clark, a farmer who was born in Fife village Kilmany but brought up in the Borders, won 25 of his 72 championship grands prix races, starting 33 from pole position.
The Jim Clark Trust was formed in 2015 and helps run the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in Duns, Berwickshire, which opened in 2019 following a fundraising campaign.