This weekend, the 2019 Formula 1 season will kick off with the Australian Grand Prix. To mark the occasion, we today feature three interesting cars from the sport's rich past. The most modern is this Williams FW07C that serves as a reminder that the team that is struggling now once was a dominant force. The third evolution of the mighty FW07, the 'C' was raced to several victories during the 1981 season. The highlighted example is the very first built and was driven to a debut victory by Alan Jones at the USA Grand Prix West.
An interim car, the four-cylinder engined Lotus 21 of 1961 was used awaiting the development of the Coventry Climax V8. It nevertheless won a Grand Prix in the hands of Innes Ireland and this car was used by a young Jim Clark to score his very first Formula 1 victory.
In addition to the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Melbourne, this weekend will also see a pair of sports car races at Sebring; the 1000-mile FIA WEC race today and the Sebring 12 Hours tomorrow. So it is very fitting that we today also take a look at the Connaught C-Type that made its belated F1 debut in the 1959 American Grand Prix, which was run at Sebring that year. The unique 'toothpaste tube' bodied machine was later also entered in the Indy 500 where it failed to qualify. The C-Type did not really come into its own until it entered historic racing. Since the early 1990s, it has been successful all over Europe including at prestigious events like the Monaco Historic Grand Prix and the Goodwood Revival.

Enjoy the links:

1957 Connaught C-Type - Images, Specifications and Information

1961 Lotus 21 Climax - Images, Specifications and Information

1981 Williams FW07C Cosworth - Chassis FW07C/11 - Ultimatecarpage.com