The 98T was born in the context of the 1986 F1 regulations, which notably expanded the performance gap between race and qualifying setups. Races often required fuel conservation strategies, while qualifying sessions were electrifying. Unrestricted by boost limitations, qualifying engines surged past 1,000 bhp—the highest power outputs recorded in F1 history.

This era was characterized by manual gearboxes, traditional clutch pedals, and the absence of power steering and traction control. Turbo lag posed a significant challenge, with engine power surging unpredictably across the rev range. Components frequently failed after just a few laps, succumbing to the immense strain.

The 1986 season represented the pinnacle of the V6 Turbo Era, defined by adrenaline-fueled racing where wheelspin was commonplace even in fifth gear, and qualifying engines were pushed to their limits—sometimes melting as they returned to the pits.

Steve Hallam, a Team Lotus engineer from 1982 to 1990, vividly recalls the intensity of that season: “In ‘86, we changed the turbochargers after every qualifying run. The air around them was literally sparking from the heat. The crew would be sweating, and you could hear the sizzle as moisture dripped onto the turbo!”

Lotus constructed only four 98T cars for the 1986 season, designated chassis numbers 1 through 4. Senna drove chassis no. 4 in the final eight races, including the legendary Australian Grand Prix, forever etched in F1 history for its dramatic conclusion.

Today, chassis no. 4 is privately owned in the UK, authenticated by Classic Team Lotus, and continues to participate in historic races. When it became necessary to replace the plenum tubes, the original tubes were provided to REC Watches for incorporation into the 98T/4 timepieces.

These references include both bold and subtle nods to the Lotus 98T, such as the striking black and gold color scheme, the skeletonized rotor shaped like the car’s nosecone, and the movement back plate, which subtly mimics the top of the Renault EF15B engine.

Meticulously crafted, the 98T/4 features domed crystals that envelop both the dial and caseback, seamlessly integrating the reforged tachymeter scale beneath the crystal. Housed in a sleek cushion case with a diameter of less than 40mm, these crystals add only 3mm of height, resulting in an impressively slim profile.

The angle of the tachymeter chapter ring aligns perfectly with the curvature of the crystals, ensuring exceptional readability under any lighting conditions. Swiss Super-LumiNova is applied to the hands and indices, while a double anti-reflective coating on the crystals minimizes glare for enhanced clarity.