Lotus 97T

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**Lotus 97T**

Full name	Team Lotus
Base	United Kingdom
Team principal	Peter Warr
Technical director	- Gerard Ducarouge
Race drivers	Ayrton Senna Elio De Angelis Johnny Dumfries
Test drivers	{{{Test_drivers}}}
Chassis	(Final) Lotus 97T
Engine	Renault-Turbo V6
Tyres	Goodyear
Debut	1985 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races competed	32
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	5
Pole positions	15
Fastest laps	3
1986 position	3rd (58 points)

The Lotus 97T was a development of the Lotus 95T of 1984. It was designed for the 1985 Formula 1 season by French engineer Gerard Ducarouge and powered by a 1500cc Renault turbocharged engine. Sponsorship came from John Player Special and French oil company Elf. The 97T was a simple design but was robust and powerful. It did feature another innovative piece of Lotus design: an early form of bargeboards.

Lotus' major coup for 1985 was signing rising star Ayrton Senna from the Toleman team to partner Elio De Angelis. De Angelis had finished third in the previous season's drivers' championship and had had many promising results with the 95T. The 97T was a natural development, but taking into account new sporting regulation changes over the rear wings of the cars.

The 97T was very competitive during the season, taking 8 poles, 7 with Senna and 1 with De Angelis and 3 wins. Senna's first was a brilliant performance in Portugal where he won by over a minute in monsoon conditions. His second came at Spa, held in wet/dry conditions. De Angelis added a third win at Imola after Prost was disqualified.

The 97T was fast but was unreliable. Senna in particular has a run of bad luck mid season, many times while leading which cost him a possible chance at the world championship. Eventually, Lotus finished third in the constructors championship. The 97T was updated for 1986 and at the hands of Senna won another two races in Spain and Detroit, and another 8 pole positions. Lotus again finished third in the constructors' championship, but Senna was able to mount a consistent challenge for the drivers' title, mostly down to improved reliability.

The car marked a brief return to the successful days of the 1960s and 1970s for Lotus. It was replaced by the Lotus Honda 99T for 1987.

[edit] See also

Lotus Cars <td style="vertical-align: middle; width:1px" rowspan=2> </td>

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