The last car conceived by Colin Chapman before his death and built in collaboration with Martin Ogilvie was the 93T, the first Lotus to feature the turbocharged Renault EF1 V6 engine. At the end of the 1982 season, Chapman realized it was no longer feasible to aim for the title without a turbo engine and secured a supply from Renault, the first manufacturer to believe in turbocharging.
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| LOTUS 93T, Nigel Mansell Silverstone, British GP 1983 |
After Chapman’s sudden passing in December 1982, Lotus sporting director Peter Warr was left to develop the crucial new project with only Martin Ogilvie as chief engineer. The situation was further complicated by the use of two different cars for the 1983 season: the Lotus 92 with the traditional Ford-Cosworth V8 used by Mansell, and the Lotus 93T with the new Renault turbo engine assigned to Elio de Angelis, whom Warr deemed more suitable for developing the turbo-powered car.
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| LOTUS 93T, Elio de Angelis Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1983 |
Unlike the 92, which used a standard aluminum chassis, the 93T employed the latest version of the carbon fiber monocoque seen in the 91. However, the new car did not feature a completely new chassis but rather an adapted one to fit the French turbo engine and meet the flat-floor regulations. The 93T had a wheelbase of 2667 mm and weighed 560 kg, more than rival turbo cars. The rest of the mechanics were derived from the 91, except for active suspension, which remained on Mansell’s 92 to avoid further weight penalties.
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| LOTUS 93T, Elio de Angelis Montecarlo, Monaco GP 1983 |
Only from the
German Grand Prix onwards did Mansell also use the new 93T. Despite
good qualifying performances, the car proved unreliable, finishing
just one race without scoring points.
In May, Peter Warr hired
Gérard Ducarouge as technical director and tasked him with
developing the new Lotus 94T. Built in just five weeks, it featured a
carbon fiber chassis specifically designed for the Renault V6 Turbo
engine. Based on the 91, the French engineer created a car with a
wheelbase of 2654 mm and a competitive weight of 545 kg. The rear
profile was slightly modified, with sidepods tapering inside the rear
wheels, creating a hint of the “coke bottle” design.
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| LOTUS 94T, Elio de Angelis Silverstone, British GP 1983 |
Results improved immediately: Mansell finished fourth in the 94T’s debut race and later achieved two fifth places. His best result came at the European Grand Prix, where he finished third and set the fastest lap, the first of his career. In the same race, De Angelis claimed pole position, also the first of his career.
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