Lotus 97T
Gérard Ducarouge's Renault-turbo Lotus, in which Ayrton Senna won his first Grand Prix by more than a minute in the rain in Portugal.
- Power
- 760 bhp
About the Lotus 97T
Developed from the 95T by Gérard Ducarouge for 1985, the 97T used Renault's 1.5-litre EF15B turbo V6 and borrowed aerodynamic ideas from Lotus's abandoned 96T IndyCar project, including an early form of bargeboards. Ayrton Senna joined from Toleman alongside Elio de Angelis, and the car took eight poles, seven of them for Senna, and three wins. Senna won in Portugal and Belgium, while de Angelis was awarded the San Marino Grand Prix after Alain Prost's McLaren was found underweight. The 97T was one of the best-handling cars of 1985, especially on tight street circuits, but the Renault engine's thirst and unreliability cost points and Lotus finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship.
Lotus 97T specs
The Lotus 97T produces 760 bhp (567 kW).
| Make | Lotus |
|---|---|
| Model | 97T |
| Years | 1985 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 1.5L twin-turbocharged V6 (Renault EF15B) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,492 cc (1.5 litres) |
| Induction | Twin-turbocharged |
| Power | 760 bhp (567 kW) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 540 kg (1,190 lb) |
| Power-to-weight | 1407 bhp per tonne |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Lotus 97T rarity in CarSpot
The Lotus 97T is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 42 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Lotus 97T fun facts
- Ducarouge got around the 1985 ban on rear-wing winglets by mounting them on the rear edges of the sidepods instead.
- Senna was the first driver Lotus signed after the death of Colin Chapman.
- De Angelis's San Marino win, inherited when Prost's car was found 2 kg underweight, was the second and last Grand Prix victory of his career.
