About the car: The Lotus Type 99T.

We like to go back in time to find out more about legendary Lotus cars. This time it's the turn of the legendary Lotus 99T. So start your engines!

On 3 February 1987, Lotus unveiled the Type 99T at an event in London. After Renault withdrew from F1 after the 1986 season, Lotus signed a deal with Honda to use their 1.5-litre turbo engine. But Lotus had to use the older version of the engine because Williams made a deal with Honda to be the only team allowed to use the new 1987-spec version of the engine. Therefore, Lotus had to find another way to make the car competitive. The innovative change to the Type 99T was a computer-controlled 'active' suspension. Lotus had already tested this with its predecessor, the Lotus 92. After a pre-season test at the Jacarepaguá Circuit in Rio, Senna insisted that the team use the active suspension throughout the season, believing that the computer-controlled system and its benefits would help keep Lotus at the front of the field (one such benefit was that less tyre wear allowed the 99Ts to run with less wing, increasing top speed).

This increased cornering speed and reduced tyre wear, which meant that the 99T could run with less wing, improving top speed on the straights.

Because of this innovation, the car is considered to be Lotus founder Colin Chapman's last great Formula One innovation.

But of course, these innovations were kept hidden from the public. Rather, we recognise the 99T by the legendary livery of Lotus' new sponsor Camel. This replaced the other cigarette brand John Player Special.

Despite a false start, the 99T was certainly competitive in Senna's hands, winning at Monaco and on the streets of Detroit. Detroit was also the last Lotus victory for Senna. 34 years later, Lotus honoured this legendary Detroit victory by designing a special livery for their latest Lotus Evija. It was on display during Monterey Car Week.

The car secured 3rd place in the drivers' championship after the still dominant Williams cars with Nelson Piquet and runner-up Nigel Mansell.

The 99T was updated to the 100T for 1988, the car was technically virtually unchanged except for a redesigned nose section, longer wheelbase, and tighter rear bodywork (helped by the reduction in fuel tank capacity from 1987's 195 litres to 150 litres). They ditched the active suspension for a more conventional setup. The new 1987 World Champion, Nelson Piquet (transferred from Williams) used the car to score consistently, but could not add any new victories to the Lotus palmares, with three third places as the best final result.

Photo credits: Lotus cars