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Country of origin:Great Britain
Produced in:1983
Numbers built:2
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:Before December 1st, 2004
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Click here to download printer friendly versionAfter successfully introducing 'ground effect' aerodynamics to Formula 1 with Mario Andretti's 1978 World Championship as the absolute highlight, Lotus quickly lost ground. It already went horribly wrong for the British team in the 1979 when the extreme Type 80 turned out to be a step too far. The conservative Type 81 that followed failed to bring Lotus back to the fore in 1980. The season was dominated by the latest Williams, which coped with the extreme forces created by the high downforce levels much better due to the very rigid chassis.

Lotus turned to aerospace technology to bridge the gap by commissioning the construction of one of the sport's first carbon fibre composite chassis. Unlike the McLaren MP4 developed at the same time, the new Lotus chassis was not constructed from carbon fibre alone. Kevlar sheets were added to the mix for additional strength as Lotus' Colin Chapman, and many others, feared carbon fibre alone was not strong enough particularly in case of an accident. Compared to a similar aluminium tub, the revolutionary composite chassis was both lighter and considerably more rigid.

The new composite chassis was part of the even more ambitious Type 88 twin chassis project. When the controversial Lotus was rejected by the sport's governing body, the existing tubs were rebuilt with a more conventional body to become the Type 87. The running gear consisting of a fully stressed Cosworth V8 and double wishbone suspension was carried over from the Type 88. This package was clothed in a carbon fibre ground effect body. Complying with the latest regulations, it was equipped with fixed skirts that replaced the sliding skirts previously used.

The Lotus 87 was pressed into service during the first European round of the 1981 season. To some extent a back-up for the Type 88, the Lotus 87 was not immediately successful. Team Lotus drivers Elio de Angelis and Nigel Mansell did manage to rack up points as the development continued. Weight was the primary enemy at a time when the more powerful turbocharged engines quickly became more reliable. Towards the end of the year a Type 87B was introduced, which was lighter.

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  Article Image gallery (3) Specifications