The Lotus Type 119c soapbox, the record-holding downhill gravity racer, is to make its second competitive appearance at the Brooklands Museum Soapbox Derby on 16 July, 2006. The Type 119c soapbox is the reigning champion and record holder of the challenging 0.7 mile descent at the Goodwood festival of Speed Gravity Racing Club Soapbox Challenge.

Following the omission of the popular downhill event from the Goodwood Festival of Speed line-up since 2004, attention has turned to the Extreme Gravity Racing (XGR) Series in the USA, and the UK-based Brooklands Soapbox Derby which ran for the first time last year.

The closed-cockpit Lotus Type 119c “streamliner” features an aerodynamically-efficient ultralight carbon-fibre monocoque, remaining true to the “performance through light weight” philosophy of Lotus founder Colin Chapman. It will be lining up on the grid once again against familiar automotive constructors such as Lola, Vauxhall and Ford as well as entries from schools, colleges and privateers.


Paul Adams, who successfully piloted the Lotus Type 119 soapbox to victory in the Roadster Class at the Goodwood event in 2002 and who clinched the overall win in 2004 with the 119c, will be returning to the driving seat hoping to lift a third trophy. On being back behind the wheel after a two-year break, Paul Adams explains: “I am really excited to be able to race at such a historic circuit and be reunited again with past competitors, which will certainly make for some good and fun racing. We will be shaking down the car on the Hethel Test Track, so that I can familiarise myself once again with the controls, oil the nuts and bolts and blow off the cobwebs!”

Teams will race from the top of the Test Hill of the Brooklands circuit, which then leads on to the exciting banked section before the Finish Straight in front of the paddock. The record, held by Lola Cars for descending the course, is 71.8 seconds, and competitors are expected to reach a top speed of around 35 mph.