The Lotus 31 was built to comply with the new for 1964 Formula 3 regulations which replaced the previous Formula Junior.

Featuring a space frame chassis similar to the Lotus 22 the 31 was outclassed by new Formula 3 cars built with monocoque chassis, disappointingly only 12 Lotus 31’s were built in 1964/65.

However the simple construction and low price meant the Lotus 31’s were ideal training cars and in 1966 19 Lotus 31’s were built with the chassis numbers starting 22-F3-.

Motor Racing Stables at Brands Hatch and Jim Russell Racing Drivers School at Snetterton, took delivery of four and five of these cars respectively.

Power for the Lotus 31 came from a 997 cc 60.8 cui Ford Cosworth tuned Ford 109E motor that gave 97 hp at 8000 rpm. Andrew Thorpe’s ex- JRRDS school seen here at Race Retro was restored by Jon Waggitt.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Open Wheel Trainer’ edition of ‘Getting’ a li’l psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !