Prior to the commencement of the 1972 season, sponsorship changes saw Lotus adopt the John Player Special (JPS) colours and McLaren backed by Yardley. Although the Lotus-Cosworth 72D assisted Emerson Fittipaldi to win his first World Championship title and gave Lotus the Constuctors’ trophy, it was by no means an easy season for them.

Whereas Fittipaldi won 5 races, Jackie Stewart in Tyrrell 003 or 005 won 4 races and led the field more regularly. Lotus and Tyrrell each gained 3 pole positions whilst Ferrari achieved 4, but the latter proved less reliable in races with just one win. Denny Hulme and Francois Cevert drove well to gain third place in the Constuctors’ trophy for McLaren with the Cosworth-engined M19C.

Ross Wardle’s artwork depicts Emerson Fittipaldi in the Lotus leading the British GP at Brands Hatch from Jackie Stewart in his Tyrrell. These 2 drivers fiercely contested the championship in the early seventies with the titles alternating between them for 4 consecutive seasons (1971-74).

The first special envelope is signed by ANDREA de ADAMICH who was successful in the Italian F3 championship and the European Touring Car series before competing in the non-championship Spanish F1 Grand Prix in a works Ferrari. His first F1 championship race was in the Ferrari 312 at Kyalami but injuries put him out of the team. He successfully raced the South African Temporada Series in the Ferrari Dino T166, winning 2 races and taking the championship.

He joined the Surtees F5000 Team and competed in America and Europe before joining McLaren for the 1970 season and moving on to March in 1971. In parallel with his F1 career, he raced Alfa Romeo T33 sports cars, winning the Brands Hatch 1000 kms and the Watkins Glen 6-hour race in 1971. He was fourth in two F1 races: for Surtees in 1972 Spanish GP and for Brabham in the 1973 Belgian GP. An accident at the start of the 1973 British GP at Silverstone forced his early retirement from F1. Afterwards he became a most respected motor sport journalist and commentator.