Lotus Goes Turbo released on DVD

UNDER THE SKIN OF FORMULA ONE

Duke, the world-leader in motorsport on DVD, has uncovered another archive classic which all racing historians and Formula One fans must have in their collection.

Lotus Goes Turbo is an exceptional film offering almost unprecedented access to the legendary Lotus F1 team and the creation of a Grand Prix car, from conception to racetrack. It is the complete story of the birth of the John Player Special Lotus 93T, following every step of the design, building and testing as the famous Lotus team moved into the turbo era with the phenomenal V6 Renault power unit.

The film opens with Elio de Angelis scoring his first Formula One win in August 1982, and the announcement by Lotus guru Colin Chapman that the team would abandon the normally-aspirated Cosworth engine for the 1983 season.

Viewers are taken inside the team’s Norfolk headquarters to watch the new car take shape, with rare access to the workshops as scale wooden models are built, wind tunnel tests conducted and the finished car takes shape.

Along the way we hear from designer Martin Ogilvie, aerodynamicist Peter Wright, team supremo Peter Warr and driver de Angelis – plus witness a young Nigel Stepney become the first person to try out the driver’s seat!

Lotus Goes Turbo reveals how the team coped with the sudden loss of Chapman on December 16, 1982. His contribution to the sport is remembered in archive footage of the 1960s and ‘70s, featuring Stirling Moss, Graham Hill, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mario Andretti and Ronnie Peterson.

Chapman’s death was a major blow to Lotus, but the team dug deep to keep the project on schedule. Lotus Goes Turbo includes the launch of the 93T, plus footage of the two-day test at the Paul Ricard circuit, which saw de Angelis take the brand new car around quicker than the works Renault!

Although relatively short, this is an absorbing and fascinating look behind the scenes of Formula One.

This DVD also includes Anatomie d’un Depart, an atmospheric short film made by Elf in the 1980s which takes you behind the scenes of the build-up to a Grand Prix, following the mechanics, engineers and drivers – including Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost and more – as they get set to race.

Lotus Goes Turbo is available now, priced at £12.99 on DVD, from leading video outlets or direct from Duke Video: Tel 01624 640000, fax 01624 640001 or email mail@dukevideo.com. Visit www.dukevideo.com online.