On 21 April 1985, at the Autodromo do Estoril, Ayrton Senna drove the Lotus 97T to pole position and then led every lap of the Portuguese Grand Prix in torrential rain, finishing over a minute ahead of Michele Alboreto's Ferrari. Werk83 has translated that specific car and moment into a die-cast 1:8 scale model. The Lotus 97T, powered by a Renault turbo engine, was the centrepiece of Team Lotus's 1985 campaign.
The Lotus 97T: A Turbo Formula One Car
The Lotus 97T was Team Lotus's works entry for the entire 1985 Formula One season. Its Renault turbo engine placed it among the most powerful cars on the grid, while its chassis gave it competitive handling. Car number 12 was assigned to Ayrton Senna; Elio de Angelis ran the sister car, number 11. The 97T represented Team Lotus at a period when turbo power was reshaping the sport, and the car proved capable of race wins in the right hands and conditions.
Estoril, April 1985: A First Win in the Rain
The 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix was simultaneously Ayrton Senna's first Formula One pole position and his first Grand Prix victory — the first of his 41 career wins. The race was run in extremely heavy rain, and Senna finished over a minute ahead of the field. The JPS black and gold livery, sponsored by John Player Special, was the primary Team Lotus colour scheme throughout the 1985 season.
Werk83's 1:8 Scale Die-Cast: Engineering a Collector Centrepiece
Werk83 has produced this replica in die-cast at 1:8 scale, the format that allows surface and livery detail to register in a way that smaller scales cannot match. The model replicates the No. 12 car in its Estoril race specification, finished in the JPS black and gold livery. Two accessories are included: a miniature Ayrton Senna helmet and a display showcase, both supplied as part of the product. The showcase keeps the model dust-free and allows 360-degree viewing without handling.
In the Display Cabinet: Anchoring a Senna Collection
At 1:8 scale, this model commands a dedicated space rather than sitting among shelf fillers. As the car that marks the very beginning of Senna's win record, it stands as a significant reference point for any collection focused on his career.
