>>Lotus 109

Lotus 109

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Lotus 109

Category	Formula One
Constructor	Lotus
Designer(s)	Chris Murphy, Peter Wright
Predecessor	107
Successor	112
Technical specifications
Chassis	Carbon fibre monocoque
Suspension (front)	Double wishbones, pushrod
Suspension (rear)	Double wishbones, pushrod
Axle track	Front: 1,650 mm (65 in) Rear: 1,600 mm (63 in)
Wheelbase	2,950 mm (116 in)
Engine	Mugen-Honda MF-351HC, 3,500 cc (213.6 cu in), V10, NA, mid-engine, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Lotus / Xtrac 6-speed semi-automatic
Weight	515 kg (1,135 lb)
Fuel	Mobil1
Tyres	Goodyear
Competition history
Notable entrants	Team Lotus
Notable drivers	11.  Alessandro Zanardi 11.  Philippe Adams 11.  Éric Bernard 11.  Mika Salo 12.  Johnny Herbert 12.  Alessandro Zanardi
Debut	1994 Spanish Grand Prix
Races Wins Podiums Poles F.Laps 12 0 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

The Lotus 109 was a Formula One car used by Team Lotus in the latter part of the 1994 Formula One season. It was designed by Chris Murphy who based the car on his Lotus 107 model. The car featured sculptured sidepods, a shorter wheelbase and lower centre of gravity than its predecessor, whilst Mugen developed the engine to be lighter and higher-revving than the previous spec engine issued to the team. It was powered by a Mugen-Honda V10. Johnny Herbert was able to keep Lotus competitive in Belgium and Monza with the car, but the funds were drying up and development was limited. At the end of the season the car was retired and Team Lotus went into receivership.

>>Lotus 108

Lotus 108

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Lotus Type 108 bicycle

The Lotus Type 108 (originally known as LotusSport Pursuit Bicycle) is an Olympic individual pursuit bicycle. The revolutionary frame is an advanced aerofoil cross-section using a carbon composite monocoque.

Development

The use of monocoque frames for bikes was not new, but their development was improved through the work of Norfolk based designer Mike Burrows, who advanced both the design and build through utilising carbon fibre mouldings.

Burrows' design was initially rejected by British cycling manufacturers. However, it was to be received more enthusiastically by the British Cycling Federation. The design was considered illegal by the UCI. Therefore the project was prematurely shelved in 1987.

In 1990, the UCI revoked the ban on monocoque frames. Shortly after this, Lotus Engineering became involved in the project through Rudy Thomann, a Formula 2 driver and friend of Burrows, who took his design to the Lotus factory.The potential was evident and Lotus’ knowledge and aptitude at using carbon fibre techniques allowed the design to finally realise its potential. By February 1992, Lotus Engineering had acquired the rights and marketed the bike as the LotusSport Bike. In addition, the design was modified and perfected through a series of wind tunnel tests, by the Lotus aerodynamics specialist Richard Hill.

The success of this was emphasised when Bryan Steel was able to shave five seconds off his time for the two kilometre pursuit at an international race meeting in Leicester, also in the process allowing Lotus to confirm that the UCI would consider it compliant with their rules.

Racing

The profile of Lotus and Burrows was raised at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. A new world record of 4 minutes 24.496 seconds was established as well as Chris Boardman winning the 4000m pursuit, catching World Champion Jens Lehmann in the final. publicity of this medal, the first British cycling medal at the Olympics in 72 years, confirmed to Lotus the potential of marketing a production version. This was to become the Lotus Type 110. 

British professional cyclist Shaun Wallace raced a model 108 at the 1992 professional world cycling championships, finishing 2nd in the 5km pursuit.His model 108 was later offered for sale by Bonhams.

Current Locations

A total of fifteen Type 108s were built including one prototype in 1991, as well as three frames for use in the Olympic Games. A further eight replicas were offered for sale at £15,000 each. Of the fifteen, at least two are on display, one at the Lotus Factory at Hethel. A third example is on display at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, located in Birmingham, AL, USA.

Chris Boardman’s Olympic gold medal winning bike was on display at the Science Museum in South Kensington, London, in a temporary exhibition which ran from 16 March to 20 June 1993, entitled "SuperBike: An Exhibition on the Olympic Gold Medal Bicycle", and was later returned to Lotus Engineering. The Science Museum keeps on its permanent collection the 2nd of the replicas made by Lotus Engineering (Inventory Object Number 1993-76)