Lotus 99T
The Lotus 99T was a Formula 1 Team Lotus stable, having run in 1987. It marks the decline of the manufacturer since gained two victories this year by Ayrton Senna were the last of the team.
As we approach the 1987 season, Lotus undergoing profound upheavals at the end of cooperation with the Renault Sport engine to bind with Honda. This partnership led to the dismissal of Johnny Dumfries to allow Satoru Nakajima, protected from the Japanese manufacturer, to race in Formula 1.
On a technical level, active suspensions including Nigel Mansell had suffered plasters driving the Lotus 92 in 1983 are located in the car. The hull is reinforced to withstand the vibration of the engine Honda which leads, in the team champion of lightness Colin Chapman, a significant bloat.
On an aesthetic and financial, 1987 marked the end of the partnership with the John Player Special cigarette and the disappearance of the black and gold livery appeared in 1981. Another cigarette, Camel, appeared with ambitions in relation to its means.
The season is euphoric, Ayrton Senna signing two straight wins in Monaco and Detroit. This second victory, the 79th of Lotus will also be the last. This is however not the panacea for the Brazilian despite five second places he also leave the team at the end of the season to join McLaren – and even more for the Japanese Nakajima, transparent throughout the another season. Nelson Piquet in a Williams powered by same Honda engine dominates the season and offers his team doubled builder-pilot. Senna finished third in the championship with 57 points, two wins, one pole position and three fastest laps against 7 points to his teammate. Lotus is third in the constructors’ championship.
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