lotus 98t

Lotus Renault JPS 98T driven by Johnny Dumfries 1986

This model is one of my favourites and would not be possible if it were not for www.f1specialties.com who produce the 98T JPS conversion decal set.

Put simply, the idea is to take the Lotus 99T mentioned elsewhere on this site, modify it using modelling filler to change the body shape and apply the John Player Special decals. I also need to mention Jörgen Stendahl who has produced some very detailed notes on converting the 99T into the 98T. Just click on this link and print out his web pages and you have a great document to guide you through the conversion process. www.f1m.com/f1m/archive/tips/js/98Tconv.shtml

The car was driven by Ayrton Senna and Johnny Dumfries during the 1986 season. Senna had transferred to Lotus from Toleman and had very definitive views on what made a successful driver line up. Ayrton refused to have Warwick as a team-mate. In his opinion “In some teams you can have two competitive drivers, but at Lotus the best solution is a firm number one. Why?

Because in my first season I realised they could not run two competitive cars at the same time…”

Thus it was that Johnny Dumfries, the Marquis of Bute, was signed up for 1986. Johnny was very much a number two driver, and lost his drive the following year, when Lotus struck a deal with Honda as an engine supplier and were obliged to take on Satoru Nakajima. Johnny managed to score 3 points that year but went on to win the LeMans 24-hour race with Jaguar in 1988.

I chose to model Johnny Dumfries car because I had already built the Lotus 99T driven by Ayrton Senna in 1987.

This model gives you the chance to add to your collection something that is not available in the shops. Other modellers who only make the “off the shelf” kits or who haven’t got access to the Internet will be very curious as to the source of your Lotus 98T. The model I have made does not contain a Renault engine, it is only the exterior of the car which has been converted. The Renault engine would need to be scratch built so will have to wait for another day.