Fast promotion

For the 1964 season, Englishman Mike Spence joined Lotus in Formula 2, but when Peter Arundell (Clark’s new team mate at Lotus in F1) got injured in a crash during a Formula 2 race at Reims-Gueux, he was promoted in Formula 1 for the second half of the season.

His results, very decent for a rookie, in particular with a fourth place at the Mexican Grand Prix, encouraged Colin Chapman to retain his services for the 1965 season.

Picture above: Mike Spence, Lotus 25 Climax at Zandvoort 1965, where he finished 8th, a lap down on winner Clark.

Despite a victory at the prestigious Race of Champion (non-championship) at Brands Hatch, Spence struggled to perform at the very highest level. It must be said that he was compared to his phenomenal team mate Clark, who at the top of his game, was going to capture his second world title, while Spence only finished eighth in the final standings.

A fourth place at the British Grand Prix and a fine podium (3rd) at the last race of the season in Mexico, behind the American duo Richie Ginther and Dan Gurney, will not be sufficient for his contract to be renewed with Lotus and Spence moved to the Reg Parnell Racing.

Unfortunately, these privately entered Lotus 25-BRM were too old to be competitive, and the hard trying Spence only scored four points during the 1966 season (picture below).