A winning F1 car driven by legendary racer Ayrton Senna is heading under the hammer for £9m.
The iconic driver was at the helm of this pristine 1986 Lotus 98T for wins at the 1986 Spanish Grand Prix and 1986 United States Grand Prix.
The Brazilian legend, who sadly died at 34 following a horrific crash at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, raced the motor eight times.
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During the 1986 season, Senna scored two victories, five pole positions and a further three podium finishes.
It was one of the last F1 cars he would drive for Lotus before switching to McLaren in 1988.
The 98T is one of the most powerful Grand Prix cars in the history of the sport, producing over 1,000 brake-horsepower.
The motor is equipped with a 1.5-litre Renault EF15B V6 turbocharged engine, as reported by What’s The Jam.
It is capable of reaching speeds of over 200mph.
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The exterior of the vehicle is finished in the iconic black and gold livery of John Player Special – the last F1 car to do so.
“Like the drivers who raced them, the cars of that magnificent period remain etched in the collective consciousness, but few transcended the sport quite like the Lotus 98T,” said a spokesperson for RM Sotheby’s.
“This magnificent car is the most successful chassis to emerge from Senna’s historic two-year stint at John Player Team Lotus and will forever be associated with one of the greatest drivers to ever grace the sport.
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“More than that, it is an icon of a period when Formula One pushed the very limits of both man and machine – and giants roamed the earth.”
The auction, hosted by RM Sotheby’s in Alton, will open on 4 March.
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