12 replies to this topic

[Megatron]

Anybody got the story on this? This is GN driving the 78 but it is not with JPS livery. Whats the story?


http://www.forix.com...77/17006_8W.JPG

[Don Capps]

From the September 1998 8W:

Who? Gunnar Nilsson

What? Lotus-Cosworth 78

Where? Fuji

When? 1977 Japanese GP

Why? Not all F1 drivers failing to reach a senior age have died in the harness. We had Graham Hill, Carlos Pace and Harald Ertl dying in tragic plain crashes, while Didier Pironi crashed fatally in a powerboat off the Isle of Wight. All these causes of premature death have one thing in common with a lethal F1 accident: the violent and sudden way in which they took place. Gunnar Nilsson's death in 1978 had none of these 'qualities' but the tragedy of his passing away was felt all the more throughout the paddock. This was largely due to everyone's admiration for the way he coped with life after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In his 31 Grands Prix Nilsson only drove for Chapman, Gunnar getting his chance with the famous marque when Lotus was down and out after Ickx and Peterson abandoned ship after the difficult 76 proved a disastrous replacement for the fifth-generation 72. But thanks to its promising new 77 and Andretti also joining, the team was soon on the up again with Nilsson taking great advantage of Mario's experience. His debut year saw a podium finish at only his third race and talk of a future World Champion was abound. After a slow start to the new season, with Andretti taking over his car in Argentina, Gunnar really got going at Jarama and took a magnificent first win at the rain-soaked Zolder track. Good results at Dijon and Silverstone saw him climbing the Championship ladder but come Autumn his performance was blighted by several poor qualifying efforts. Little did we know that Gunnar was already fighting the symptoms of cancer. Gunnar Nilsson's final appearance on the F1 scene, at Fuji, saw him drive an Imperial- liveried car (Imperial Tobacco being the parent company of the John Player Special brand), the only occasion in the seventies that a Lotus didn't wear JPS black. Nilsson's last race was a lacklustre performance, however, and with Peterson signed for 1978, Gunnar was on his way out at Lotus. He did come to an agreement with the new Arrows team for the next season but as it happened he didn't have the health to drive the car. The drive went to Stommelen. Gunnar died in October 1978, having lived to see the lauch of the Gunnar Nilsson Cancer Treatment Campaign.

How? A strangely decorated Lotus 78 might have had some of you wondering. Of course, the number 6, its typography and Nilsson's helmet in Swedish colours suggest nothing other than Gunnar's works car but what's this Imperial sponsorship? Well, we guess that's just for the real experts to know...

[Maldwyn]

Lotus running dual livery...how did that get by Bernie and Max
Was Imperial a more popular brand than JPS in Japan?
I remember McLaren doing something similar around the same time with Lowenbrau but I think it only applied in the US. Marlboro stickers were replaced by a partially blue paint job for Long Beach and Watkins Glen on a couple of occasions.

[Racer.Demon]

Originally posted by Maldwyn
Lotus running dual livery...how did that get by Bernie and Max

I'm sure it got by Max pretty easily since this happened in the same year March ran Rothmans and Hollywood liveries during the whole year! (Not to mention the quadruple livery - and those art sponsorships ;) - of the year before...)

For the Löwenbräu McLaren, see http://www.racer.dem.../8w/8w-598.html

[MoMurray]

Correct me if I am wrong Don, but the Lotus team did not use JPS black in 1970...which was in the seventies...

Mo

[Felix Muelas]

Mo,
Neither did in 1971
;)

Felix

[Marcor]

You also forget 1979, not a good season for the team despite Carlos Reutemann and Mario Andretti.

The main sponsors were Martini and Tissot, not JPS.

[Racer.Demon]

Originally posted by Don Capps
Gunnar Nilsson's final appearance on the F1 scene, at Fuji, saw him drive an Imperial-liveried car (Imperial Tobacco being the parent company of the John Player Special brand), the only occasion in the seventies that a Lotus didn't wear JPS black.

Perhaps 8W should change that into "the mid-seventies"...;)

Mo: don't blame Don, he's just the messenger!

[MoMurray]

Sorry Don. I only have eyes for one website. I didn't even know what 8W was. Please accept my humblest apologies.

Mo.

[Don Capps]

Mo, 8W is simply an outstanding place to spend time. I recommend it very highly. If you simply read through the results over the years, you get an education in motor racing history that is top notch.

[Ray Bell]

What a suggestion!
I can spend over six hours a day on Atlas F1 and not see the news, RVM or anything other than the bulletin boards!
My immediate thought was that they already knew he had cancer and were setting out to distance themselves from it... highly unlikely, I know, but my first thought.
I doubt that they would have been shoring up a brand that sold well in that country.

[Jaxs]

Gunnar Nilsson lives on, the Cancer Therapy ward at Charing Cross Hospital, Hammersmith, London, UK is dedicated to Gunnar and displays a large photo of Gunnar in the JPS. There carry out some excellent work and He is fondly remembered.

Jack.

[Maldwyn]

It is excellent to hear that Gunnar Nilsson is remembered and that the appeal he launched more than 20yrs ago still has an impact today.