Lotus 81

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Lotus 81
Lotus 81B
2017 FIA Masters Historic Formula One Championship, Circuit of the Americas (23970302968).jpg
Category Formula One
Constructor Lotus
Designer(s) Colin Chapman (Technical Director)
Martin Ogilvie (Chief Designer)
Peter Wright (Head of Aerodynamics)
Predecessor 80
Successor 86 / 87 / 88
Technical specifications
Chassis Aluminium monocoque
Suspension (front)Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)Double wishbones, coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
Length4,623 mm (182.0 in)
Width2,134 mm (84.0 in)
Height965 mm (38.0 in)
Axle track Front: 1,700 mm (67 in)
Rear: 1,638 mm (64.5 in)
Wheelbase 2,789 mm (109.8 in)
Engine Ford Cosworth DFV, 2,993 cc (182.6 cu in), 90° V8, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission Hewland FGA 400 5-speed manual
Weight580 kg (1,280 lb)
Fuel Essex
Tyres Goodyear (1980)
Michelin (1981)
Competition history
Notable entrants Team Essex Lotus
Notable drivers11. Flag of the United States.svg Mario Andretti
12. Flag of Italy.svg Elio de Angelis
12./11. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nigel Mansell
Debut 1980 Argentine Grand Prix
Last event 1981 Belgian Grand Prix
RacesWins Podiums Poles F/Laps
180200
Constructors' Championships0
Drivers' Championships0
n.b. Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to
Formula One World Championship Grands Prix only.

The Lotus 81 was a Formula One racing car built by Colin Chapman's Lotus team for the 1980 Formula One season. Unlike many of forebears the 81 was not a terribly innovative or competitive car, coming as it did at a time when Chapman's interest in his racing activities was waning.[ citation needed ]

Instead it was a very standard ground effect design with sliding skirts and the ubiquitous Cosworth DFV 3.0 litre V8 powerplant. The car was said to generate a great deal of downforce but have excessive pitch sensitivity problems, ultimately leading Chapman to develop the innovative twin-chassis Lotus 88.

Mario Andretti and Elio de Angelis used the 81 in all 14 rounds of the 1980 Formula One world championship, and the car also gave Nigel Mansell his Formula One debut, with the British driver lining up in a total of three races that season. The best result for the car was Elio de Angelis's 2nd place in Brazil.

Chapman had intended to use the Lotus 88 for the 1981 season,[ citation needed ] but a massive furore over the legality of the new car meant that the 81 was kept on as a stop gap for the first four races Lotus competed in, as they boycotted the 1981 San Marino Grand Prix, with Mansell taking 3rd place in the Belgian Grand Prix and de Angelis claiming three points finishes. The car was replaced by the Lotus 87.

The Lotus 81 at Barber. Lotus 81 at Barber 01.jpg
The Lotus 81 at Barber.
Lotus 81 engine and transmission Lotus 81 engine and transmission.JPG
Lotus 81 engine and transmission

Complete Formula One results

(key)

YearEntrantChassisEngineTyresDrivers123456789101112131415PointsWCC
1980 Team Essex Lotus 81 Ford Cosworth DFV G ARG BRA RSA USW BEL MON FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN USA 145th
Mario Andretti RetRet12RetRet7RetRet7Ret8RetRet6
Elio de Angelis Ret2RetRet109RetRet166Ret4104
81B Nigel Mansell RetRetDNQ
1981 Team Essex Lotus 81B Ford Cosworth DFV M USW BRA ARG SMR BEL MON ESP FRA GBR GER AUT NED ITA CAN CPL 22*7th
Nigel Mansell Ret11Ret3
Elio de Angelis Ret565

* Of those, 9 points were scored with the 81 model.

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