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One of Formula 1's most celebrated cars, the Lotus 79 was an all-conquering force in the 1978 season and propelled Mario Andretti to that year's world championship.

The Lotus 79 built upon the ground effect concept Colin Chapman pioneered with its predecessor - the Lotus 78 - and used it to allow Andretti and the late Ronnie Peterson to ease to wins in six of the nine races it entered that season following its Belgian Grand Prix debut.

Legendary technical illustrator Giorgio Piola explains what exactly made the 79 so brilliant, and how rival teams were soon able to improve on its design to better effect.