The Lotus 97T was designed by Gérard Ducarouge for the Team Lotus and was driven by Ayrton Senna and Elio de Angelis. A development of the previous year’s 95T, the car was powered by the turbocharged 1.5-litre Renault EF15B V6 engine. Ayrton Senna demonstrated his ability to race in the rain in the second race of the 1985 season, winning the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril. It was his first ever F1 win. Senna crossed the line having led every lap of the race, and with only one other car on the lead lap, that of second place Michele Alboreto well over a minute behind. Later the season Senna won his second race, Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, again in wet track conditions. In his first year at Lotus Senna finished fourth in the driver’s championship. His team mate, Elio de Angelis, managed to win one more race (at Imola) to help Lotus finish joint third with Williams in the constructor’s championship.
| Season | Series | Event |
| 1985 | F1WC | Belgian GP |
| Driver | No. | Entrant |
| Ayrton Senna | 12 | John Player Special Team Lotus |
| Scale | Manufacturer | Collection |
| 1:43 | IXO | Formula 1 Auto Collection |
| Cat. No. | Quality | Rarity |
| No. 37 | 
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