The ex-Johnny Herbert/Pedro Lamy
1993-94 Lotus-Mugen Honda Type 107C Formula 1 Racing Single-Seater

• Iconic V10-Era Formula 1 racer
• Show car condition
• Multiple Grand Prix entrant

The Lotus Type 107-series of Formula 1 racing car chassis originated ready for the 1992 season, the second of Team Lotus's resurgence under the direction of Peter Collins and Peter Wright. That season saw the once standard-setting British team make outstanding progress with its Ford HB 3.5-litre V8-engined cars, and Lotus challenged for the 'best of the rest' title behind the established Formula 1 elite of Williams, McLaren and Benetton.

Team Lotus's technical strength had been augmented by the addition of former Leyton House (March) designer Chris Murphy. His new Type 107 chassis design had been intended originally to use a Judd V10-cylinder engine but a new deal with Vickers plc – owners of Cosworth Engineering – then brought supply of the promising Ford HB unit.

Murphy pursued a design philosophy of simplicity and light weight. Both passive and active suspension systems were deployed during that year, and with drivers Mika Hakkinen – the future double-World Champion – and Johnny Herbert the Norfolk-based organisation enjoyed a promising year.

Into 1993 the updated Lotus Type 107B cars showed initial promise, still using Ford HB V8 engine power. Drivers included Johnny Herbert, Alessandro Zanardi and Pedro Lamy but for 1994 greater things were expected with an adaptation of the Type 107B chassis to exclusive 'C-spec' use of Mugen-Honda V10 power units. The increasingly cash-strapped Team Lotus's latest cars then proved generally reliable through that early season and Johnny Herbert scored seventh place finishes in both Brazil and Aida Japan. He and Pedro Lamy both qualified at Monaco but during aerodynamic rule-change testing at Silverstone, Lamy suffered a fearful accident on the old circuit's Abbey Curve and was fortunate to be extricated from the cockpit of his wrecked car with only badly broken legs.

The Lotus 107C which he was driving that day is understood to have been chassis '01' – and it is the salvaged monocoque from that incident which forms the basis of the show or display car now offered here.
We are advised that Lotus-Mugen Honda Type 107C-01 was first used in pre-season testing before its racing debut – as recorded on contemporary time sheets and set-up lists supplied by Team - driven by Johnny Herbert to finish seventh in that Brazilian GP at Interlagos, Sao Paulo. However public race reports of the time attribute chassis T107C/3 as being the Herbert car, chassis '01' here being driven by Lamy in Brazil and finishing tenth.
Chassis '01' was then Team's spare car for the Pacific GP at Aida, Japan, but based upon set-up sheets and photographic evidence it was actually raced there by Lamy, finishing eighth. It was then used by Team in testing at Imola in Italy, Snetterton at home in England and then at Croix-en-Ternois in France, its drivers including Alex Zanardi.
The car was again listed as spare for the San Marino GP at Imola, but it was raced by Johnny Herbert to finish tenth after a late race-day morning clutch failure and oil leak on his originally assigned chassis '3'. Pedro Lamy then drove this car home 11th in the Monaco GP.
The 22-year-old Portuguese driver was then injured in testing at Silverstone, in an accident in which this car came off the circuit at some 170mph on the approach to Bridge Corner, bursting through the adjacent debris fence and landing in a fortunately vacant spectator access tunnel.
Following the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger at Imola, Formula 1 rule changes had been hurried through to reduce downforce and cornering speeds. Lotus's Silverstone test session was to investigate the effects of a required new cut-away aerodynamic diffuser. However, at high speed 107C-01s rear wing mounting failed, triggering the accident in which the engine and gearbox broke away from moulded carbon-composite chassis monocoque.
After Team Lotus so sadly entered administration in 1995, this surviving though severely damaged chassis '01' languished in the Lotus factory until it was purchased by the current owner in 1997 together with related wheels, tyres, wishbones, radiators, sidepods and undertray drawn from Team's redundant spares stock. Front and rear wings, nose and a race-used engine cover with full logos were also retrieved.
No Mugen Honda engines were available so a Judd V10 unit (with no internal parts) plus a Lotus transmission casing were used to re-assemble this car to its current rolling display form. As presented today this 3.5-litre 'atmo' era Formula 1 car also retains an original steering wheel, working dashboard, wiring looms, heat exchangers, springs and dampers plus its chassis plate and original FIA circuit transponder. It was first shown reassembled in the 2012 Lotus festival event at Brands Hatch circuit. It is now offered here accompanied by extensively documented race and test history and contemporary set-up sheets, plus original 35mm photographic race slides, printed race photos and a dedicated photo history album – plus purchase receipts for the chassis and other components from Team Lotus. With its race and test history, and its involvement in the testing accident which led to Britain's home Grand Prix circuit itself being completely remodelled, this is a Formula 1 display car with a distinct difference...