One of the most famous competition Lotus Elites has been confirmed as a participant in next year's 73rd Goodwood Members' Meeting. The car, which became a stalwart of the competition circuit in the early 1960s, was owned and campaigned by racing driver Les Leston, who fitted the registration plate DAD 10 to reflect his own nickname, Daddio.
The car is due to make its return to the Chichester circuit on 21-22 March to compete in the Les Leston Cup, a commemorative race in honour of the 1954 Formula Three champion.
Leston was known for his epic on-track battles with Graham Warner of Chequered Flag Racing, who also had success with his Elite – LOV 1. It was Leston that came out victorious, winning the 1961 British Sports Car Championship following several class wins at Goodwood.
Despite his affinity with the Elite, Leston sold it less than a year after scooping his sports car title, and it later went missing. It was finally rediscovered in 1978, having languished for some time in a field next to a repair shop. The renowned Lotus specialist who found the car, Malcolm Ricketts, then undertook its restoration, which took six years.
Since its refurbishment, DAD 10 has once again established itself as a competitive car, and will be given the chance to test its mettle – and that of owner Robin Longdon – against other GT cars built between 1960-1966, including Austin-Healey 3000s, Morgan +4s and TVE Grantura Mk3s.
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Greg MacLeman is a contributor to and former Features Editor of Classic & Sports Car, and drives a restored and uprated 1974 Triumph 2500TC