Description:

The Lotus 81 was built and revealed to the public in 1979 when it was hung from the ceiling in the Paradis night club in Paris. It first raced in 1980 and was the fourth generation Lotus ground effect F1 car, it had sliding skirts and was seen as an improvement on its’ predecessor the Lotus 80. The main team sponsor at the time was an American petrol company – Essex Petroleum and the cars were prepared in their distinctive red, blue and chrome livery for the start of the season.

4 Lotus 81 were built (of which 2 now reside in USA). Chassis 2 first raced at the Argentinian GP in January 1980 with Mario Andretti driving but retired before the end of the race.

The car attended every race in 1980 (at some races it was the T car) and was raced 6 times by Mario Andretti, 3 times by Elio de Angelis and once by Nigel Mansell.  Its’ best result was 4th in the USA East GP driven by de Angelis.

In 1981 the livery changed back to the familiar Black and Gold of John Player Special (JPS) and Nigel Mansell drove the car for the first 4 races before it was replaced by the new Lotus 87.

The car was raced in the European Masters series by Dr Alexander Lienau for several years and was bought by its current owner in late 2015. It was returned to the original Essex livery in time for the 2016 Goodwood Members Meeting where it took part in the F1 Ground Effect demonstration before leaving for the USA Masters series including the Austin and Mexican F1 GP support races.

It has been raced regularly in the Masters European F1 series in 2017 and 2018 and also competed in the Monaco Historique GP in 2018.

Lotus 81/2 is sold in 100% race-ready condition and comes with a current FIA HTP. Its Cosworth DFV engine has only done 311 miles (3 hours) after its rebuild by Geoff Richardson. Crack testing was just completed and valid for 2 more years. The fuel cell is valid to 2023. Maintenance has always been done without any expense spared by Classic Team Lotus (CTL).

There are 3 sets of wheels in total and a full range of gear ratios. The car is currently in its 1980 ESSEX livery with fresh paint. (If desired by its next owner, 81/2 could also compete in its 1981 JPS livery.)

This is a rare opportunity to acquire an iconic LOTUS ground effect F1 car which is a welcome and front running car in the Masters Historic F1 Championship as well as a competitive entry for the Monaco 2020 Historic Grand Prix !

History: 

(Courtesy of Oldracingcars.com)

Race

Car

Driver

Result

Argentinian Grand Prix
Buenos Aires - 13 Jan 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

Retired

Brazilian Grand Prix
Interlagos - 27 Jan 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

Retired

South African Grand Prix
Kyalami - 1 Mar 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

12

United States Grand Prix West
Long Beach - 30 Mar 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

Retired (accident)

Monaco Grand Prix
Monte Carlo - 18 May 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

7

Spanish Grand Prix
Jarama - 1 Jun 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

Retired

French Grand Prix
Paul Ricard - 29 Jun 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

(Spare - not used in practice)

British Grand Prix
Brands Hatch - 13 Jul 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

Retired

German Grand Prix
Hockenheim - 10 Aug 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

(Spare - not used in practice)

Austrian Grand Prix
Österreichring - 17 Aug 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

(Only used in practice)

Austrian Grand Prix
Österreichring - 17 Aug 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

(Only used in practice)

Dutch Grand Prix
Zandvoort - 31 Aug 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

(Only used in practice)

Dutch Grand Prix
Zandvoort - 31 Aug 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Mario Andretti

(Only used in practice)

Italian Grand Prix
Imola - 14 Sep 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

Did not qualify

Canadian Grand Prix
Montréal - 28 Sep 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

10

United States Grand Prix
Watkins Glen - 5 Oct 1980

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

4

South African Grand Prix
Kyalami - 7 Feb 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

10

United States Grand Prix West
Long Beach - 15 Mar 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

Retired (accident)

Brazilian Grand Prix
Rio de Janeiro - 29 Mar 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

11

Argentinian Grand Prix
Buenos Aires - 12 Apr 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

Retired

Belgian Grand Prix
Zolder - 17 May 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

(Only used in practice)

Monaco Grand Prix
Monte Carlo - 31 May 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

(Spare - not used in practice)

Spanish Grand Prix
Jarama - 21 Jun 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

(Only used in practice)

French Grand Prix
Dijon-Prenois - 5 Jul 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Elio de Angelis

(Only used in practice)

French Grand Prix
Dijon-Prenois - 5 Jul 1981

Lotus 81 [2] - Cosworth DFV V8

Nigel Mansell

(Only used in practice)