Jan Lammers Drives Lotus Evija & Lotus Type 79 After 46 Years

Lotus celebrates its rich racing history in the Netherlands.

This year’s Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix is fast approaching, taking the world’s most intense and prestigious racing series to the beach town of Zandvoort since the race returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 after its 35-year hiatus since 1985. A historic and venerated name in the legacy of Formula 1 is Lotus, a manufacturer that has built its legacy on motorsport success, and whose futuristic luxury performance vehicles, sports cars, and hypercars are inspired by racing legends of the past.

With six victories on the track, Lotus is one of the most successful manufacturers at Zandvoort, as legends like Mario Andretti and Jim Clark won at the circuit in 1978, and 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1967, respectively. One year after Andretti’s win at Zandvoort in 1978, driver Jan Lammers tested a Lotus Type 79 chassis at the track in an effort to earn a place on the Formula 1 team.

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A black Formula 1 race car with John Player Special branding takes a corner on a racetrack surrounded by trees and a metal barrier.

A red Lotus Evija with black wheels drives on a racetrack, passing a curve with green grass and trees in the background.

A red sports car, reminiscent of the Lotus Evija, with a visible license plate, drives around a curve on a racetrack surrounded by grass and trees—echoing scenes once mastered by Jan Lammers.

Glass display cases filled with various trophies, cups, and awards, with racing memorabilia like photos of the Lotus Type 79 and Jan Lammers visible in the background.

Close-up of the cockpit and steering wheel of a vintage green Lotus Type 79 race car with the number 5, displayed in front of a trophy case.

Two men stand at a table looking at documents in an open binder, with one man pointing at a page—perhaps discussing details of the Lotus Type 79. Boxes are stacked on shelves in the background.

Two people observe classic Formula 1 race cars, including the iconic Lotus Type 79, displayed indoors, with large portraits of notable figures like Jan Lammers on the wall in the background.

A man sits in the cockpit of a vintage Lotus Type 79 race car, adjusting controls on the dashboard. The car displays "Valvoline" branding and the name "Mario" on the side.

Close-up view of a car’s dashboard showing a tachometer, temperature gauges, and part of the steering wheel, reminiscent of the legendary cockpit details in the Lotus Type 79.

Close-up of a black surface with gold text and laurel wreath decals showing race placements and the words "John Player Special," reminiscent of the iconic Lotus Type 79 and its legendary racing heritage.

Two men stand and talk in an automotive workshop, with racing car photos—including the Lotus Type 79—tools, and a computer visible in the background.

A man in racing gear stands beside a vintage black Lotus Type 79 John Player Special Formula 1 car parked in front of an open trailer on a racetrack.

A racing helmet with a blue and orange swirl design rests on the front tire of a black Lotus Type 79 John Player Special Formula 1 car.

Two people inspect a black vintage Lotus Type 79 Formula 1 car with John Player Special and Olympus branding, once driven by Jan Lammers, on a racetrack.

A person in a racing suit adjusts their balaclava beside a vintage black and gold Lotus Type 79 "John Player Special" Formula 1 car on a racetrack, reminiscent of Jan Lammers’ era.

A race car driver adjusts their helmet beside a black Lotus Type 79 Formula 1 car with John Player Special and Valvoline branding, reminiscent of Jan Lammers' era, on a racetrack.

A person in a racing suit and helmet steps into a black vintage Lotus Type 79 Formula 1 car as two crew members assist in the pit lane.

A racing driver wearing a blue helmet sits in a black and gold Lotus Type 79 with "Player Special" written on the side, next to a metal barrier.

A man in a blue shirt stands next to Jan Lammers, who is seated in a black John Player Special Lotus Type 79 race car on a track.

A man in a racing suit sits and smiles in the driver’s seat of a Lotus Evija, with another yellow sports car, reminiscent of the iconic Lotus Type 79, visible outside.

A person in a racing suit stands before four yellow sports cars, including a Lotus Evija, and one black car parked outside a building labeled "Lotus The Clubhouse.

A photograph of a Formula 1 race car print featuring the iconic Lotus Type 79 John Player Special on track, placed on a table with another car image—possibly featuring Jan Lammers—partly visible in the background.

46 years later, the Dutch racing driver was reunited with the car that he tested on the track in 1979, taking the historic Lotus Type 79 for a number of laps like he did on the Zandvoort track deades earlier. In addition, Lammers also test drove the incredible flagship electric hypercar from Lotus: the Evija.

With roughly 2,000 horsepower, the Evija has immense power and engineering focused on pure performance through its electric powertrain. Representing both the glorious past and exciting new innovations from the brand, Jan Lammers’ reunion with Lotus at Zandvoort is a celebration of the Dutch Grand Prix’s history and the venerated heritage of Lotus as a racing staple and a manufacturer.

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Image Source: Lotus