There are race cars, and then there are artifacts. The 1986 Lotus 98T chassis 98T-3 is the latter. RM Sotheby’s has just announced that one of the most storied single-seaters in Formula One history is heading to sealed auction on March 4, with an estimated value between $9.5 and $12 million. And if you know anything about Ayrton Senna’s two-year tenure at Lotus, you know why that number barely feels like enough.
BLACK, GOLD, AND A BRAZILIAN ON THE RISE
By 1985, Team Lotus had finally landed the driver they’d been chasing since the year before. Senna’s stock had climbed so sharply in a single season at Toleman that signing him cost Lotus ten times what had been floated twelve months earlier. But it was worth every penny. During the 1985 season, Senna delivered two wins, six podiums, and seven poles in a car that was, on paper, no match for McLaren or Williams. The 1986 season, however, was supposed to be different. The 98T was the car that would put him in title contention.
It was also the final Formula One car to carry the iconic black and gold John Player Special livery, a color scheme that had defined Lotus through its dominant run in the ’70s and into the ’80s. When JPS pulled out at the end of ’86, it ended an era. The 98T wore that livery better than anything before it.
ENGINEERING THE MONSTER
Designed by Gérard Ducarouge, the 98T was a significant step forward from the 97T it replaced. The chassis was now a one-piece integral molding of carbon fiber and aluminum, smaller and more aerodynamically refined as a direct result of new FISA fuel regulations dropping the allowance from 220 to 195 liters. Ducarouge used that constraint as an opportunity, reducing the tub height behind the cockpit and packaging a new engine management computer that gave Senna a live fuel-level readout on the dash. In 1986, that was a serious innovation.
Out back lived Renault’s EF15bis, a 1.5-litre V6 turbo developed at Viry-Châtillon by chief engineer Bernard Dudot. In race trim, it reliably produced 888 hp at 12,500 rpm, thanks in part to a pneumatic valvetrain that swapped conventional valve springs for compressed air. In qualifying trim, with water injection, no wastegates, and boost cranked past 4 bar, it almost certainly crested 1,200 hp. No one knows the exact number because the output exceeded what contemporary dynamometers could even measure. Senna’s lead engineer Steve Hallam recalled mechanics wearing thick asbestos gloves just to remove turbos after each qualifying run, the metal glowing red and literally sparking as it cooled.
WHAT 98T-3 ACTUALLY DID
Of the four 98T chassis built, this one is the standout. Chassis 98T-3 was driven exclusively by Senna for the first half of the 1986 season and tallied five pole positions, two race wins, and three additional podiums. The win at Jerez in Spain, where Senna held off Nigel Mansell by 0.014 seconds at the flag, the third-closest finish in F1 history, remains one of the most gripping moments the sport has ever produced. A few weeks later, after a puncture during the Detroit Grand Prix dropped him to eighth with 20 seconds to make up on the leader, Senna methodically picked his way through the field to win by more than half a minute. It was a masterclass that still gets talked about.
The car was bought directly from Lotus in 1988 and has since passed through some of the world’s most respected motorsport collections before landing with the current consignor in 2016. Paul Lanzante Ltd, the same outfit responsible for some of the most meticulous restorations in the historic racing world, has since brought it to race-ready condition with its provenance is fully documented.
SPEC SHEET
Model: 1986 Lotus 98T (Chassis 98T-3)
Engine: Renault EF15bis 1.5L V6 Turbo
Power (Race): ~888 hp
Power (Qualifying): Estimated 1,200+ hp (boost exceeding 4 bar)
Gearbox: Hewland 6-speed manual transverse
Chassis: One-piece carbon fiber and aluminum monocoque
Livery: John Player Special (black and gold) — final F1 car to carry this livery
Season Record: 5 pole positions, 2 wins, 3 additional podiums (Senna, 1986)
Chassis Built: One of four 98T chassis constructed
Estimate: $9,500,000 – $12,000,000 USD
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
Bidding opens March 4, 2026 through RM Sotheby’s sealed auction, with estimates ranging from $9.5 to $12 million. For buyers outside the US, note that the car currently sits in the U.K. on a temporary import bond; RM Sotheby’s recommends reaching out directly to work through the import and export specifics before placing a bid.
Recap
1986 Lotus 98T Ayrton Senna Auction
Ayrton Senna’s most successful Lotus — the 98T chassis he used to win in Spain and Detroit during the 1986 F1 season — is heading to auction through RM Sotheby’s on March 4th, with bidding expected to land somewhere between $9.5 and $12 million. It’s the last car to ever wear the legendary JPS black and gold livery, and it’s been fully restored by Paul Lanzante Ltd and is ready to run.
