Bruno Senna will drive Ayrton Senna's Lotus in Estoril.
On April 21, 1985, Ayrton Senna won the Portuguese Grand Prix driving a Lotus Type 97T, once again impressing the Formula 1 world with his driving skills on a rain-soaked track. Ferrari driver Michele Alboreto, who took second place, was then more than a minute ahead. The rest of the Grand Prix participants lost more than a lap to Senna.
Forty years later, on April 21, 2025, Bruno Senna will drive the same Lotus car along the Portuguese circuit. Classic Team Lotus has invited the nephew of the great Brazilian racer to take part in a special event dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the three-time world champion's first victory.,
At one time, Ayrton Senna drove about 5,000 km in this car built by Team Lotus for the 1985 season, including competing at stages in Brazil, Portugal, the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Monaco, Canada and the Detroit Grand Prix.
The car is now in a private collection, but Classic Team Lotus maintains it in working order, and the Renault EF4 V6-Turbo engine has been restored by Renault motorists in Viry-Chatillon.
Clive Chapman, the son of Colin Chapman, the founder of the legendary Lotus company, who now heads Classic Team Lotus, said of those events 40 years ago: "It was a great moment for Senna, Team Lotus and the entire Formula 1. So much so that Ayrton himself considered that Estoril race to be the best of his career.
And it was the first victory of the team after my father's death, and then Peter Warr, Fred Bushell and Hazel Chapman, my mother, took over the leadership of the team. In general, it was a fateful moment in all respects.
We consider it a special privilege to keep the car in working order. On the day of the 40th anniversary of that victory, Bruno will get behind the wheel, it will cause us all strong emotions, and we are preparing to share them with the whole world."
It's also worth adding that Chris Dinnidge, the manager of Classic Team Lotus, who was the team's chief mechanic 40 years ago and worked with Ayrton Senna's car during that race weekend, will also be in Estoril.
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