On the sidewalk

Emerson Fittipaldi claims his first world title for Lotus in 1972. Two weeks after a first victory (of the season) at Jarama, the Brazilian qualifies on pole position at Monaco, at the wheel of his JPS Lotus 72, but is surprised by the perfect start of the BRM of Jean-Pierre Beltoise (placed under the trees and sheltered from the rain, on a dry track, picture-below), and the Ferrari of Jacky Ickx, second, the Rain Master.

Relentless, despite Goodyear tyres that are less performant in the wet than the Firestone tyres used by his competitors, “Emmo” fought by cutting the trajectories to the limit, like at the hairpin of the ‘Old Station’ (picture above), and finished third, one lap behind, at the end of a two and half hours rain sodden race.