Iconic Driver Ayrton Senna’s 1987 Lotus 99T
on display at The Formula 1® Exhibition
North American debut of Formula 1® Exhibition is 10 days away
TORONTO, ON – April 23, 2024… A legendary race car with a deep Toronto connection, driven by one of the world’s most iconic drivers, is the latest addition to the all-new Formula 1® Exhibition opening May 3rd at Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, 1 Yonge St. A 1987 Lotus 99T driven by Ayrton Senna will be on display in Toronto, allowing fans to get up close to race car history.
The Type 99T celebrates the incredible racing career of one of the all time F1® greats: Brazil’s Ayrton Senna. The three-time World Champion, and Formula 1® legend spent three seasons with Team Lotus where he claimed his first race victories. In his final and best performing year with Lotus, Senna drove a 99T to eight podiums, including back-to-back wins at Monaco and Detroit. This victory at Monaco was Senna’s first at the track which would go on to become his most successful career circuit.
A much admired hero both on and off the track, Senna was recognized for his unique driving style and passion for the sport. In a career cut short, he yielded 41 Grand Prix™ victories and set 65 pole positions, a record he held until it was broken in 2006 by Michael Shumacher.
Formula 1® fans will recall 1987 as a pivotal year for both Senna and the Lotus F1® team. Team Lotus joined forces with Honda, and working with designer Gerard Ducarouge created the 99T, recognized for its revolutionary Lotus Active Suspension, as well as one of the fastest cars on the F1® circuit, especially with Senna at the wheel.
Piloted by Ayrton Senna, the 1987 Lotus 99T race cars marked the final victories and podium finishes for Lotus in Formula 1® during the 1987 season. This marked the end of an extraordinary era for the Lotus racing legacy.
On loan from its owner, the Lotus 99T has deep Toronto ties. In 2016, the car was purchased by Toronto’s William Halkiw whose son discovered the gem for sale. A top secret deal was made; the car was purchased from an anonymous vendor in Chicago where it was found stored in a garage covered in bedsheets in pristine condition. Senna had last driven the race car 29 years earlier in Austria at the end of the 1987 F1® season. That season saw Senna drive this car to a third-place finish in the German Grand Prix. An original log book containing detailed records of the 99T car’s activity revealed 3194.1 miles were driven in total: Ayrton Senna logged 2929.9 of them.
The 1987 Lotus 99T will be showcased in the first of six specially designed rooms in the exhibition, Once Upon a Time in Formula 1®. The room also features the iconic 1962 BRM P578, the car in which Graham Hill secured his first World Drivers’ Championship, and the 1955 Lancia D50, a lovingly reconstructed example of the famed cars that delivered wins for the likes of Alberto Ascari, both on loan from Revs Institute.
“We are beyond delighted to announce that the F1 Exhibition in Toronto will showcase the famed yellow car: Ayrton Senna’s historic 1987 Lotus 99T,” said Jonathan Linden, Producer of The Formula 1® Exhibition. “This remarkable F1 race car promises to captivate audiences during our North American debut, serving as a tribute to the legacy of a man whose brilliance as a driver and compelling personality left its mark on the sport forever.”
Clive Chapman, owner of Classic Team Lotus and son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman, said: “Classic Team Lotus is delighted that The F1 Exhibition in Toronto is showing the important part Lotus has played in the history of Formula One. We are pleased to have a great association with the exhibition.”
Opening on May 3, 2024, North America’s first official Formula 1® Exhibition will run until early summer in Toronto at Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, 1 Yonge Street. Officially developed in association with Formula 1® and with unprecedented support from the motorsport community, the immersive show, spanning over 20,000 sq. ft., boasts a wide range of artifacts and contributions from the sport’s most legendary teams, experts, and personalities.
Produced in partnership with Round Room Live and Pathfinder Live, and delving far beyond what fans have ever seen before, the show uses bold, technology-led design features and large-scale interactive displays to lift the lid on the past, present and future of Formula 1®.
Tickets for The Formula 1® Exhibition Toronto presented by TSN are on sale and available at F1Exhibition.ca.
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Formula 1®
Formula 1® racing began in 1950 and is the world’s most prestigious motor racing competition, as well as the world’s most popular annual sporting series. Formula One World Championship Limited is part of Formula 1® and holds the exclusive commercial rights to the FIA Formula One World ChampionshipTM. Formula 1® is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation (NASDAQ: LSXMA, LSXMB, LSXMK, BATRA, BATRK, FWONA, FWONK) attributed to the Formula One Group tracking stock. The F1 logo, F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX, PADDOCK CLUB and related marks are trademarks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula 1 company. All rights reserved.
About Round Room Live
Round Room Live is the leading producer and promoter of exhibitions and family show entertainment, specializing in transforming both new and iconic intellectual property into engaging and thrilling live events. Round Room creates unique live experiences tailored to the distinct character of each property and produces the highest quality productions for audiences around the world.
Round Room’s Immersive and Entertainment Experiences division is currently touring: Formula 1: The Exhibition, Jurassic World: The Exhibition, Mandela: The Official Exhibition, and Tupac Shakur. Wake Me When I’m Free. Their current roster of touring theatrical shows includes: Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour, Blippi The Musical (2023 Olivier Award nomination for Best Family production), Peppa Pig Live, Sesame Street Live!, Nitro Circus 20th Anniversary Tour, Shrek the Musical (2024 US Tour), and Blue’s Clues & You! Live On Stage.
About Pathfinder Live
Pathfinder Live is a full-service venture development and planning studio specialising in travelling exhibitions and location-based entertainments. It works with major rights holders and media owners.
About Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto
Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto, located at 1 Yonge Street, holds a significant place in the city’s history, notably as the former home of the Toronto Star. The printing press area has been transformed into an experiential entertainment multi-plex, bursting onto the world-stage with the iconic Immersive Van Gogh exhibit. Lighthouse ArtSpace Toronto has also been home to other innovative immersive exhibits, the latest being Immersive Disney Animation, and numerous other presentations, ranging from dance, theatre, private events to art exhibits.
About TSN
TSN is Canada’s Sports Leader and provides world-class content across its industry-leading platforms including five national television feeds, TSN+, TSN.ca, TSN Radio stations, and the TSN app, featuring 5G capabilities. With a broad portfolio of multimedia sports assets, TSN delivers more championship events than any broadcaster in the country. The network’s deep and diverse roster of live sports programming includes the Grey Cup, IIHF Women’s Worlds, Men’s Worlds, and World Junior Championship, Spengler Cup, Hockey Canada events, CFL, NFL, NBA, MLS, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets, Season of Champions Curling, FIFA World Cup™, UEFA EURO, MLB, Golf’s Majors, Grand Slam Tennis, NASCAR, F1, IndyCar Series, CHL, and NCAA March Madness. TSN is part of Bell Media, Canada’s premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, digital, and Out-of-Home. More information about TSN is available at TSN.ca.
