Lotus 98T Driven by Ayrton Senna Heads to Auction

Picture of By Rob Harvey
By Rob Harvey

One of the most significant Formula One cars of the turbocharged era is going to auction with RM Sotheby’s, in the form of Ayrton Senna’s 1986 Lotus 98T.

This is chassis 98T-3 and was driven by Senna in eight Grands Prix during the 1986 Formula One season. In this car, Senna achieved two victories, five pole positions and three more podium finishes.


The Final Black and Gold Lotus

Designed under Gérard Ducarouge, the Lotus 98T was the final Lotus Formula One car to have the black-and-gold John Player Special livery.

It has a 1.5-litre turbocharged V6 and, in qualifying trim, output was said to exceed 1,000bhp, making it one of the most powerful Formula 1 cars ever made.

Only four of these cars were built for the 1986 season, so it’s extremely rare to see one up for sale.

Sealed Auction

Senna’s 98T-3 is being sold in RM Sotheby’s upcoming Sealed auction, with an estimated sale price of $9.5 million to $12 million (approximately £7 million to £9 million).

It comes with a heavy price tag, but if you have the money, this is going to be an incredible addition to someone’s collection.

Read more automotive industry news


Leave a Reply

Share this post
Enjoyed this article by Rob Harvey?
Email Rob Harvey