The Lotus Type 99T bore huge changes both inside and out from its predecessor the Type 98T. The first and most noticeable change was that of the livery. Gone was the world famous black and gold JPS colour scheme, now replaced by the bright yellow and blue of new sponsors Camel. Changes under the skin were even more significant. Moving away from the Renault powerplants that had been employed since the Type 93T oh 1983, the 99T harnessed a new twin-Turbo Honda unit capable of pushing out more than 800bhp.
Perhaps the most significant change however was the reintroduction of the revolutionary 'Active' suspension system. Active suspension had been in development for a few years at Lotus and had even been tried out on previous Formula One cars. With the introduction of the system on the 99T Lotus yet again changed the way Formula One cars were designed! Active suspension was eventually outlawed as it gave massive performance and handling advantages.
Driven by Ayrton Senna and Satoru Nakajima during the 1987 season, the 99T proved to be one of Lotus' more successful modern day Formula One cars. Wins in Monaco and Lotus' last ever victory in Formula One at Detroit meant that Ayrton Senna and Team Lotus finished third in the World Drivers Championship standings and the Constructors' Championship respectively.
This 99T is seen here in the paddocks of the 2002 Goodwood Festival of Speed where 50 years of Lotus engineering was celebrated.
Article by Wouter Melissen, last updated before 12 / 01 / 2004
one of my fave f1 cars, the styling of the 99t looks aggressive and the yellow paint certainly makes it stand out. great to see videos of nakajima in this car using the gate shift and clutch midway through eau-rouge!
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The Lotus Type 99T bore huge changes both inside and out from its predecessor the Type 98T. The first and most noticeable change was that of the livery. Gone was the world famous black and gold JPS colour scheme, now replaced by the bright yellow and blue of new sponsors Camel. Changes under the skin were even more significant. Moving away from the Renault powerplants that had been employed since the Type 93T oh 1983, the 99T harnessed a new twin-Turbo Honda unit capable of pushing out more than 800bhp. 
