That moment when you realize you just stuffed a Lotus 49 at St.Devote.

Photo: Brando Cairone

A collective "nooooooooo" rose from all in the stands around St. Devote when Chris MacAllister stuffed his immaculate 1967 Lotus 49 into the barriers.   It happened on the first flying lap of practice for the 9th Monaco Historic Grand Prix on Friday.

Tough one for Mac Allister but you might not want to be is a member of his pit crew tonight as it looked to me the front right came off, just before the crash.

This particular car is of enormous historical importance:  it was in this car that the Ford Cosworth DFV engine made its debut, with a win at Zandvoort with Jim Clark.   Clark later drive this chassis to a win at Silverstone as well as in the US and Mexican Grand Prix.

Hopefully there are spares on hand to fix this amazing car before Sunday's race.

Three Laps In A 1967 Lotus 49.

Always loved the red steering wheel in pictures of Jim Clark's Lotus 49 and it still looks great in this clip from Road&Track.

You are riding, literally, on Alex Rossi's head as he drives the 1967 Chapman F1 creation around the Circuit of the Americas.

Notice how, over the three laps shown in the clip,  Rossi adapts to the car  which has little grip and is twitch under braking.

You can read more about this on the latest issue of the newly redesigned Road & Track magazine which might be on your news stand (I say might because all the ones around here seem to be sold out) or via iPad.

The article is also online HERE