Formula Junior Lotus 22 profile
23rd August 2026
Report by David Harbey
To a chap of a certain age, early 60s single seater racing cars are things of beauty unsurpassed by anything before or since. By then, the front engined single seaters for both grand prix and oval racing stateside were fading memories. The new slim and elegant looking monocoques were a real step change in racing car design.
Although it was Cooper that pioneered the rear engined revolution, it could be argued that Lotus, led by the enigmatic Colin Chapman, perfected the concept. The Lotus 18, with a distinctive boxy shape was the first rear engined Lotus.
This was followed by the Lotus 20 (Formula Junior) and Lotus 21 (Formula 1) in 1961. At the time, Formula Junior was the feeder formula for the top class. Powered by 1100cc Cosworth engines and well suited to the fast flowing circuits of the time, they proved to be a great proving ground for up and coming talent.
For 1962, Lotus improved on the 20 with the 22 – with lower rear bodywork and the driver in a far more reclined position to reduce frontal area. A far cry from the upright seating style of the Ferrari and Maserati just a few years earlier. But the biggest upgrade from the 20 to the 22, was the introduction of disc brakes instead of the previous drum brake system. This made the brakes much more powerful and durable.
Looking back at the production numbers – over 150 for the FJ 18, 118 for the FJ 20 and 77 for the new for 1962 FJ 22 – the Formula Juniors were clearly important to the financial survival of the marque and funding the F1 team.
Ian Walker Racing Lotus 22
This article focuses on the Lotus 22 currently raced by Jeremy and Rufus Flann and originally one of a pair sold to Ian Walker Racing in 1962. It retains the distinctive yellow body and green stripe livery. This article focuses on the Lotus 22 currently raced by Jeremy and Rufus Flann and originally one of a pair sold to Ian Walker Racing in 1962. It retains the distinctive yellow body and green stripe livery.
Racing as a privateer team would always be challenging but IWR achieved a reasonable set of results. They ended the year as top privateer team, and lead driver, Mike Spence, was taken on by the works team for 1963. This car was driven by Australian Paul Hawkins among others.
On to the hills
IWR meanwhile moved to Brabhams for 1963 and this Lotus moved on to a new owner. It was acquired by Peter Boshier-Jones, brother of three-time British Hillclimb champion, David. Peter fitted a supercharged 1216cc Climax FWA engine and finished the season third, setting hill records along the way. Boshier-Jones and the car feature in this profile – Peter Boshier-Jones.
Good results were achieved in the following couple of years, including hill records, but the Lotus was starting to lose out to the more powerful V8 engined cars on the hills. He was reunited with the car in 2024.
Historic racing across Europe
The car then passed through various owners including Bob Woodward, Alan Baillie and Walter Nef. In 2005 Rudolf Ernst purchase the car and raced it until 2011 when it was sold to Andrew Hayden who used it in many historic races – including at Donington and Silverstone.
Hayden stopped racing in 2021 following a crash. After the car had been repaired, Jeremy Flann purchased the car in late 2023 and raced it in 2024 and 2025.
New owners for the Lotus 22
For 2026, son Rufus is behind the wheel having previously driven both an Austin Seven Supersport and Fraser Nash. Decent results have been achieved in the Lotus – especially two 6th places at the BRDC Classic against a very strong field of Formula Junior racers.
Behind the wheel
I asked Rufus about driving the Lotus.
Comparatively the Lotus handles, drives and behaves like a kart. Four years of karting certainly gave me an advantage when I stepped in to the Lotus. I intuitively felt more comfortable in it and felt I knew how it would react under braking or in to corners.
The Nash is great fun and I never turn down the opportunity to race or hill climb it but racing the Lotus is faster and closer as all the cars on track are to their original specification meaning that all the cars weigh the same and have the same amount of power (making it very much down to the driver).
2026 has been a really enjoyable first season driving the Lotus. The biggest highlight was winning the John Taylor Memorial Trophy at Mallory Park back in May. There have also been some incredible new circuits to me like Donington Park, Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, and soon to be Spa Francorchamps at the end of September.
The Formula Junior Historic Racing Association are such an incredible group of people who have already made some great memories and incredible racing. They have been more than welcoming in my first year in the car.
Pre-66 success for Rufus Flann
The VSCC season finale at Mallory Park this August was the Allcomers Scratch Race for Pre-66 cars. Morning Practice was very interesting being in a 60s single seater, as we were mixed in with some vintage race cars as well as our grid. Traffic was very hard to manage but I just managed to get one fast lap in to take pole from Jon Milicevic by just 0.082 seconds.
The race was definitely the exciting bit. Myself and Jon started perfectly alongside each other (instead of staggered) which made the start a little bit more pressurised. It was an even start between me and Jon and I thought I would take the lead with the inside line for Gerards. However, shortly after the start, the mighty 4.5 litre Kurtiss Roadster driven by Frederick Harper roared past both myself and Jon into the lead.
I then got boxed into turn 1 which promoted Jon to the lead and I initially had to settle for second. For the rest of the race, it was an intensely close battle between myself and Jon from lights to flag, putting on a great show for the crowds at Mallory. I came away with the win but it could have been either of ours to take.
It was a great race to photograph at the Esses and the nature of the Mallory Park Circuit meant that we could see the action up to the Hairpin, briefly as they sped through Devils Elbow and from Gerrards back to the Esses.
The next generation?
When I caught up with Rufus in the paddock he was giving a young fan the chance to sit in the car. Who knows where that will lead to ?
Thanks to Rufus and Jeremy Flann for their input to this profile.
