Lotus 101
Encyclopedia
The Lotus 101 was Team Lotus
’s entry for the 1989 Formula One season
. Gérard Ducarouge
’s departure during 1988 had necessitated the former Williams
aerodynamicist Frank Dernie
to be appointed as Technical Director in November 1988. Despite his appointment the majority of the work for the 101 had been conducted by chief designer Mike Coughlan
. The 101 was to be a rushed design built within weeks and to a series of constraints.
Durcarogue’s departure coincided with end of the 1,500 cc turbocharged era. Lotus, along with other competitors, now had to incorporate 3,500 cc normally aspirated engines into their cars. Judd
were therefore enlisted to supply their CV 32 valve V8 engine, but as Lotus were only a “customer” (Judd’s principal contact was the supply of their latest EV V8 engine to the March
team) solutions were sought to make up the power deficiency by appointing Tickford
to research and develop a five-valve-per- cylinder head. The use of the Judd engine did permit Dernie and Coughlan to design a smaller and lighter car than before; indeed the narrowness of the cockpit required Momo
to build a special steering wheel to prevent the drivers from scraping their knuckles.
The initial optimism and favourable reception by management and driver alike shortly evaporated, as the 101 proved to be a disaster. Not only were the Judd engines 125 bhp less powerful than the dominant Honda V10 engine
used by McLaren, but it was apparent that the Goodyear
tyres that the team were using had been designed principally for use by the McLaren and Ferrari
teams, who were able to test and tune their chassis to work better with the compounds.
The 101 failed to collect significant result as the season progressed, culminating in the events following the British Grand Prix
where Nelson Piquet
had driven to a fighting fourth placed finish. The Chapman family, who were still the shareholders in Team Lotus International, persuaded Peter Warr
and Chairman Fred Bushell (who was about to face charges arising from the De Lorean
affair) to leave. Tony Rudd
, who was at the time working for Group Lotus, was appointed Executive chairman. Also the Tickford head was abandoned.
The renewed optimism briefly helped to improve results; however, at Spa
both Lotuses failed to qualify for a Grand Prix for the first time since 1958. The season ended with two fourth place finishes for Nelson Piquet
and Satoru Nakajima
in Japan
and Australia
respectively.
Team Lotus
Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing...
’s entry for the 1989 Formula One season
1989 Formula One season
The 1989 Formula One season was the 40th season of FIA Formula One motor racing. It featured the 1989 FIA Formula One World Championship, which commenced on March 26, 1989 and ended on November 5 after sixteen races...
. Gérard Ducarouge
Gérard Ducarouge
Gérard Ducarouge is a French former Formula One car designer. Like many designers, his background was based in aeronautical engineering...
’s departure during 1988 had necessitated the former Williams
WilliamsF1
Williams Grand Prix Engineering Limited, trading as AT&T Williams, is a British Formula One motor racing team and constructor. It was founded and run by Sir Frank Williams and Patrick Head...
aerodynamicist Frank Dernie
Frank Dernie
Frank Dernie is a veteran British engineer with extensive Formula One motorsport experience.-Career:Dernie was brought up in Lancashire and educated at Kirkham Grammar School before he studied engineering at the Imperial College London university...
to be appointed as Technical Director in November 1988. Despite his appointment the majority of the work for the 101 had been conducted by chief designer Mike Coughlan
Mike Coughlan
Mike Coughlan is a race car designer. On 3 May 2011 it was announced that Coughlan will become the Chief Designer for Williams F1...
. The 101 was to be a rushed design built within weeks and to a series of constraints.
Durcarogue’s departure coincided with end of the 1,500 cc turbocharged era. Lotus, along with other competitors, now had to incorporate 3,500 cc normally aspirated engines into their cars. Judd
Judd (engine)
Judd is a name brand of engines produced by Engine Developments Ltd., a company founded in 1971 by John Judd and Jack Brabham in Rugby, Warwickshire, England...
were therefore enlisted to supply their CV 32 valve V8 engine, but as Lotus were only a “customer” (Judd’s principal contact was the supply of their latest EV V8 engine to the March
March Engineering
March Engineering was a Formula One constructor and manufacturer of customer racing cars from the United Kingdom. Although only moderately successful in Grand Prix competition, March racing cars enjoyed much better achievement in other categories of competition including Formula Two, Formula Three,...
team) solutions were sought to make up the power deficiency by appointing Tickford
Tickford
Tickford is an automobile engineering and testing company with a history of coachbuilding and tuning and is famous for such products as the 140 mph Tickford Turbo Capri.-Early years:...
to research and develop a five-valve-per- cylinder head. The use of the Judd engine did permit Dernie and Coughlan to design a smaller and lighter car than before; indeed the narrowness of the cockpit required Momo
MOMO (company)
MOMO Srl is a design company headquartered in Milan, Italy that makes accessories and parts for automobiles.- Company history :MOMO was founded by gentleman racer Giampiero Moretti in the 1960s. MOMO are the initials for Moretti-Monza. Monza is a region in the Province of Milan.In 1969 MOMO opened...
to build a special steering wheel to prevent the drivers from scraping their knuckles.
The initial optimism and favourable reception by management and driver alike shortly evaporated, as the 101 proved to be a disaster. Not only were the Judd engines 125 bhp less powerful than the dominant Honda V10 engine
V10 engine
A V10 engine is a V engine with 10 cylinders in two banks of five with a distinct exhaust note.- Mechanics :The V10 is essentially the result of mating two even-firing straight-5 engines together. The straight-5 engine shows first and second order rocking motion...
used by McLaren, but it was apparent that the Goodyear
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
tyres that the team were using had been designed principally for use by the McLaren and Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari
Scuderia Ferrari is the racing team division of the Ferrari automobile marque. The team currently only races in Formula One but has competed in numerous classes of motorsport since its formation in 1929, including sportscar racing....
teams, who were able to test and tune their chassis to work better with the compounds.
The 101 failed to collect significant result as the season progressed, culminating in the events following the British Grand Prix
1989 British Grand Prix
The 1989 British Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Silverstone on July 16, 1989.-Report:McLaren went into the race with a new oil system and transverse gearbox which was feared to be unreliable. Nethertheless, the Woking team took control of qualifying with Senna ahead of Prost. Prost...
where Nelson Piquet
Nelson Piquet
Nelson Piquet Souto Maior , known as Nelson Piquet, is a Brazilian former racing driver. He was Formula One world champion in , and . He is one of eight drivers to win three or more world championships, the others being Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna , Alain Prost , Juan...
had driven to a fighting fourth placed finish. The Chapman family, who were still the shareholders in Team Lotus International, persuaded Peter Warr
Peter Warr
Peter E. Warr was an English businessman, racing driver and a manager for several Formula One teams, including Walter Wolf Racing, Fittipaldi Automotive, and Team Lotus....
and Chairman Fred Bushell (who was about to face charges arising from the De Lorean
De Lorean Motor Company
The original DeLorean Motor Company was a short-lived automobile manufacturer formed by automobile industry executive John DeLorean in 1975. It is remembered for the one model it produced — the distinctive stainless steel DeLorean DMC-12 sports car featuring gull-wing doors — and for its brief and...
affair) to leave. Tony Rudd
Tony Rudd
Anthony Cyril "Tony" Rudd was an engineer involved in aero engine design and motor racing, with particular associations with BRM and Lotus.- Early life and war service :...
, who was at the time working for Group Lotus, was appointed Executive chairman. Also the Tickford head was abandoned.
The renewed optimism briefly helped to improve results; however, at Spa
1989 Belgian Grand Prix
The 1989 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Spa-Francorchamps on August 27, 1989.- Qualifying :The two McLarens were on the front row with Senna half a second ahead of Prost. Third was Berger in the Ferrari but over 1.5 seconds behind Senna. Boutsen was fourth ahead of Patrese and...
both Lotuses failed to qualify for a Grand Prix for the first time since 1958. The season ended with two fourth place finishes for Nelson Piquet
Nelson Piquet
Nelson Piquet Souto Maior , known as Nelson Piquet, is a Brazilian former racing driver. He was Formula One world champion in , and . He is one of eight drivers to win three or more world championships, the others being Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna , Alain Prost , Juan...
and Satoru Nakajima
Satoru Nakajima
Satoru Nakajima is a former racing driver from Japan.-Career:Nakajima was born into a farming family living just outside Okazaki, Japan. He began driving cars in his early teens in the family's garden with his older brother giving him tips, careful that they were not caught by their father...
in Japan
1989 Japanese Grand Prix
The 1989 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Suzuka Circuit, Japan, on October 22, 1989. It formed the 15th and penultimate round of the 1989 Formula One World Championship. This race would become one of the most notorious in F1 history, as the culmination of Alain Prost and...
and Australia
1989 Australian Grand Prix
The 1989 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Adelaide on November 5, 1989. It took place in wet conditions, and was stopped and restarted following a first-lap collision. Andrea de Cesaris spun at the same corner on two consecutive laps...
respectively.
Complete Formula One results
(Results in italics indicate fastest lap)| Year | Team | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Pts. | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camel Camel (cigarette) Camel is a brand of cigarettes that was introduced by American company R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in the summer of 1913. Most current Camel cigarettes contain a blend of Turkish tobacco and Virginia tobacco. Early in 2008 the blend was changed as was the package design.-History:In 1913, R.J... Team Lotus Team Lotus Team Lotus was the motorsport sister company of English sports car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The team ran cars in many motorsport series including Formula One, Formula Two, Formula Ford, Formula Junior, IndyCar and sports car racing... |
Judd CV V8 V8 engine A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft.... |
BRA 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix The 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Jacarepaguá on March 26, 1989.-Report:The FIRST team withdrew before the beginning of the season, as the car had failed a mandatory FIA pre-season crash test... |
SMR 1989 San Marino Grand Prix The 1989 San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Imola on April 23, 1989.- Race summary :The only change to the entry list for the San Marino Grand Prix was the arrival of Gabriele Tarquini in the second car of the small AGS team, which had only run one car in Brazil after Philippe... |
MON 1989 Monaco Grand Prix The 1989 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monaco on May 7, 1989.- Race summary :The field was one fewer in Monaco as Ferrari had decided not to run a second car to replace Gerhard Berger, who was injured in an accident at Imola. Elsewhere Tyrrell had new cars that looked promising... |
MEX 1989 Mexican Grand Prix The 1989 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Mexico City on May 28, 1989.- Classification :- Notes :*Only point: Gabriele Tarquini*First Grand Prix start: Onyx... |
USA 1989 United States Grand Prix The 1989 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on June 4, 1989 in Phoenix, Arizona.__FORCETOC__-Summary:1989 was the year following the last Formula One race in Detroit, and choices for a new location for the United States Grand Prix came down to Laguna Seca, in California, and... |
CAN 1989 Canadian Grand Prix The 1989 Canadian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on June 18, 1989.It was the first Formula One victory for Belgian driver Thierry Boutsen, who won three F1 races overall, all during his two-year stint with Williams-Renault.- Classification :- Notes :*Lap... |
FRA 1989 French Grand Prix The 1989 French Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Paul Ricard on July 9, 1989.-Report:The race saw four drivers replaced by drivers making their first Formula One start: Jean Alesi replaced Michele Alboreto at Tyrrell, Éric Bernard replaced Yannick Dalmas at Larrousse, Martin Donnelly... |
GBR 1989 British Grand Prix The 1989 British Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Silverstone on July 16, 1989.-Report:McLaren went into the race with a new oil system and transverse gearbox which was feared to be unreliable. Nethertheless, the Woking team took control of qualifying with Senna ahead of Prost. Prost... |
GER 1989 German Grand Prix The 1989 German Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Hockenheimring on July 30, 1989. The race was highlighted by Gerhard Berger's spectacular accident at the Jim Clark chicane.-Pre-qualifying:... |
HUN 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix The 1989 Hungarian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Hungaroring on August 13, 1989. Nigel Mansell won the race for Ferrari after a marvellous overtaking manoeuvre on Ayrton Senna as the two came upon a back marker at the same time... |
BEL 1989 Belgian Grand Prix The 1989 Belgian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Spa-Francorchamps on August 27, 1989.- Qualifying :The two McLarens were on the front row with Senna half a second ahead of Prost. Third was Berger in the Ferrari but over 1.5 seconds behind Senna. Boutsen was fourth ahead of Patrese and... |
ITA 1989 Italian Grand Prix The 1989 Italian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Monza on September 10, 1989.- Classification :-Notes:* McLaren-Honda won the Constructor's Championship with four races left.... |
POR 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix The 1989 Portuguese Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at the Autódromo do Estoril on September 24, 1989. This race resulted in Onyx's only podium , the only lap ever led by a Minardi, and saw 10 different teams in the top 10.... |
ESP 1989 Spanish Grand Prix The 1989 Spanish Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Jerez on October 1, 1989.- Classification :- Notes :*First Grand Prix start: J.J. Lehto*Nigel Mansell was suspended for this race following his collision with Ayrton Senna in Portugal... |
JPN 1989 Japanese Grand Prix The 1989 Japanese Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held at Suzuka Circuit, Japan, on October 22, 1989. It formed the 15th and penultimate round of the 1989 Formula One World Championship. This race would become one of the most notorious in F1 history, as the culmination of Alain Prost and... |
AUS 1989 Australian Grand Prix The 1989 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Adelaide on November 5, 1989. It took place in wet conditions, and was stopped and restarted following a first-lap collision. Andrea de Cesaris spun at the same corner on two consecutive laps... |
15 | 6th | |||
| Nelson Piquet Nelson Piquet Nelson Piquet Souto Maior , known as Nelson Piquet, is a Brazilian former racing driver. He was Formula One world champion in , and . He is one of eight drivers to win three or more world championships, the others being Jack Brabham, Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Ayrton Senna , Alain Prost , Juan... |
Ret | Ret | Ret | 11 | Ret | 4 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 6 | DNQ | Ret | Ret | 8 | 4 | Ret | ||||||
| Satoru Nakajima Satoru Nakajima Satoru Nakajima is a former racing driver from Japan.-Career:Nakajima was born into a farming family living just outside Okazaki, Japan. He began driving cars in his early teens in the family's garden with his older brother giving him tips, careful that they were not caught by their father... |
8 | NC | DNQ | Ret | Ret | DNQ | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | DNQ | 10 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 4 |