Emerson Fittipaldi Gets Emotional While Sitting in his First Championship-Winning Car

Brazilian F1 legend, Emerson Fittipaldi was another attendee at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The former Lotus and McLaren driver was quite emotional when sitting in his Lotus 72D, the car that won him his first F1 championship.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he revealed that it was chassis number 5 and he won in Watkins Glen, his first F1 victory. He also won his home race and the World Championship, before crashing in Zandvoort. In fact, this was his first time back behind the wheel of this iconic car. The Brazilian was close to tears when he spoke about his beloved car.

He classed the Lotus 72D as one of best cars and he raced in the same chassis for four years. He also admitted that even after all these years, the car still fits him perfectly.

Emerson Fittipaldi took the restored car up the famous hill as part of a major celebration of Lotus grand prix cars at the event. It had only just been rebuilt, after spending four decades as a damaged monocoque in the Lotus stores.