Lotus Tech Throwback: Celebrating Innovation on the Track!

April 21 marks a historic milestone in the Lotus and Formula 1 history books—the 40th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s first Grand Prix victory. To honour this iconic moment, the same Lotus 97T Formula 1 car that Senna drove to his legendary win at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix, will return to the Estoril circuit for the first time since that triumph. Driving the car will be his nephew, Bruno Senna, commemorating one of F1’s most defining performances.

The event unites two major celebrations: the 75th anniversary of Formula 1 and the pivotal role Lotus played in shaping its legacy. It serves as a tribute not only to Ayrton Senna but also to the engineers, designers and all the drivers who propelled Lotus to racing greatness.

Ayrton Senna’s victory at Estoril was a masterclass in wet-weather driving, with the Brazilian lapping nearly the entire field to claim the first of his 41 Formula 1 wins. Senna also regarded this performance as the greatest of his career, and dismissed the widely held belief that his 1993 Donington win was his finest drive: Senna was quoted saying: “No way! I had traction control there. It was a good win but compared with Estoril ‘85 it was nothing.”  

The Lotus 97T itself was a pioneering race car and was the first to feature vertical aerodynamic devices behind the front wheels for airflow management, which eventually developed into the highly sophisticated bargeboards, which remain in modern F1 aerodynamics.

Clive Chapman, Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus said: “For Team Lotus, Ayrton’s arrival was a defining moment. His talent, technical understanding and relentless drive helped push the team forward. This anniversary allows us to relive that magic and honour his legacy. Bruno Senna’s commemorative drive at Estoril promises to be an emotional and historic moment, bringing the past full circle and cementing Senna’s enduring impact on motorsport.”

Bruno Senna commented “It will be an incredible feeling to drive this iconic car, marking the beginning of a series of victories and achievements by my uncle. This celebration will bring together fans from all over the world and shows how Ayrton Senna remains a powerful name in motorsport, and a positive influence on society in many ways – from educational impact to sustainable innovation, and as a movement that continues to inspire generations to persue their dream and never give up.”

Before heading to Estoril, the Lotus 97T will also be running at the 82nd Goodwood Members’ Meeting on the 12th and 13th April, acting as a fitting send-off before its homecoming lap in Portugal. 

Ahead of the 82^nd Members’ Meeting, The Duke of Richmond CBE DL, said: “Goodwood has always celebrated motorsport’s greatest icons, and it’s an honour to host the Lotus 97T ahead of its return to Estoril. Seeing the legendary car on track once again will be a fitting tribute to Ayrton Senna’s legacy and a special moment for fans, who can see the car in action again at the Festival of Speed in July.”

Lotus will be sharing all stories, interviews and reactions across social media, and the historic lap will be filmed and shared by various media outlets, including Sky Sports F1.