The Adelaide Motorsport Festival was held over the weekend of the 17th & 18th of October and featured a particularly special tribute to Formula 1’s time on Adelaide’s classic street circuit.

The Sporting Car Club organised for two of Ayrton Senna’s Lotus F1 cars to join in the fun, making it even more wonderful for us, and there was a strong Lotus presence outside of the Formula 1 festivities. This is the story of their weekend, thanks to Andrew Stevens.

By Andrew Stevens

Having brought two ex Senna Lotus F1 cars, including the iconic Lotus Renault 97T, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1st Adelaide F1 grand prix, the Sporting Car Club could have been forgiven for expecting the car to do more than half a lap before breaking. Having been unable to get to the 1985 event, I was looking forward to seeing the 97T on the Adelaide street circuit. Alas it was not to be.

While the 97T and Honda engined 99T were relegated to static displays, the rest of the “Tipo F1” contingent put on a show, along with the historic tourers, sports cars and variety of modern categories.

With the Adelaide skyline in the background, the Victoria park street circuit was picture perfect under blue skies for the weekend of motorsport. In addition to the 97T and race-winning Honda-engined 99T, Lotus was represented by Mike Bennett in his Lotus 12, Ian Peters in his championship winning Reynard 91D Formula Holden, and Michael Dennerley in his Exige Roadster, who was showing the Ferrari’s the way, despite a dodgy front shock absorber.

After a hurried preparation, Ian managed to score 3rd fastest time of the weekend, beating most of the F1 cars home. Can’t wait until next year, when we’ll have a CLA display in the static display area.