Jo Siffert's Lotus 22 - the only Formula Junior racing car in Formula 1

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Jo Siffert's Lotus 22 - the only Formula Junior racing car in Formula 1

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Created on October 22, 2025

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Daniel Reinhard

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Daniel Reinhard

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Typical front view of a racing car from the 1960s

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Even a Formula Junior reached speeds beyond 200 km/h

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - car or sculpture?

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - The driver is not sitting, he is lying in the car

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - The driver becomes an integral part of the car

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Typical Swiss color scheme red and white

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Classic monoposto from one of the best eras of motorsport

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - An important witness to Swiss motorsport history

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Lotus was just about to revolutionize motorsport in 1962

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Siffert was virtually unbeatable in the 22

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - A Formula 1 car was hardly bigger

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - A Hewland gearbox in the rear for the first time in 1962

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - tubular frame and plastic panels

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - In an exhibition on the 50th anniversary of Siffert's death with Siffert's Chevron F2 and a Maserati A6GCS

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Lotus were as famous as they were infamous for their graceful shape

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - racing car aesthetics

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Siffert's Formula Junior is for sale

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - As an exhibition vehicle to mark the 50th anniversary of Siffert's death

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Double wishbone front axle with adjustable camber

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Disc brakes on all wheels

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Chassis tube as water supply from the radiator to the engine

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - today the in-board fire extinguishing system is standard

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Racing car construction without frills

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Lotus has also used the mid-engine since the Type 18

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - The Ford-Cosworth is based on a Ford Kent engine

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Everything you need to know

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - still in Cheshunt in 1962, Lotus only moved to Hethel in 1966

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Lotus had delegated the customer cars to its spare parts division

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Cramped cockpit

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - Perhaps a boyhood dream for some of those who still actively experienced Seppi

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - The newer steering wheel is a concession to younger entries

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert - The car has FIA papers

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Colin Chapman - Lotus founder and technical genius

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Jo Siffert in the Lotus 22 at the 1962 Brussels GP

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Jo Siffert before the start on the Avus in 1962

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Jo Siffert before the lap of honor on the Avus in 1962

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Final touches to the 1100 cc Cosworth engine before the 1962 Avus race

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Start of the 1962 GP of Nations on the Avus in Berlin

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The AvD race director with Jo Siffert after winning the 1962 GP of Nations on the Avus

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Willy Brandt hands Jo Siffert the winner's wreath at the GP of Nations on the Avus in 1962

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Jo Siffert in Lotus 22 at the 1962 GP Circuito del Garda

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Berlin's governing mayor Willy Brandt with Seppi Siffert in 1962 after winning the Formula Junior of the GP of Nations on the Avus

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A young Jo Siffert enjoys the moment at the award ceremony of the 1962 GP of Nations in Berlin

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Jo Siffert in the Lotus 22 in the 1962 season

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Jo Siffert with his racing car in 1962 - he often financed the trip with entry fees and bonuses

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Last outing for Seppi in his Lotus 22 at the Ollon-Villars hill climb in 1962

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Georges Filipinetti with three of his Ferrari racing cars for the 1965 season: Ferrari 250 GTO (left), Ferrari 4400 P (center), Ferrari 250 LM (right)

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Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Auto oder Skulptur?

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Der Fahrer sitzt nicht, er liegt im Auto

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Der Fahrer wird ein integraler Bestandteil des Autos

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Typisches Schweizer Farbschema rot-weiss

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Klassischer Monoposto aus einer der besten Epochen des Motorsports

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Ein wichtiger Zeugnisträger der Schweizer Motorsportgeschichte

Summary

An outstanding history, an impressive palamres and even a start in Formula 1 - "Seppi" Siffert's Lotus 22 from 1962 is an important witness to one of the most exciting eras in Swiss motorsport history.

This article contains the following chapters

A certificate holder
From the Lotus 22 to the Lotus 24
The further history of 22-J-7

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Lotus Type 22, a monoposto for use in Formula Junior, was presented at the "Racing Car Show" in London in January 1962, after which a total of 77 cars were built between 1962 and '65. In contrast to the Type 20 from the previous year, the 22 had a stiffer tubular frame with additional stabilizing elements. Typical of Lotus, the racing car, which was actually intended for an entry-level class, once again raised the bar considerably in terms of technology and handling. Apart from the engine and its displacement, there were in principle hardly any compromises to be made compared to higher racing classes.

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Images of this article

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Auto oder Skulptur?

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Der Fahrer sitzt nicht, er liegt im Auto

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Der Fahrer wird ein integraler Bestandteil des Autos

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Typisches Schweizer Farbschema rot-weiss

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Klassischer Monoposto aus einer der besten Epochen des Motorsports

Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior (1962) Ex Jo Siffert – Ein wichtiger Zeugnisträger der Schweizer Motorsportgeschichte

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