The same Lotus 97T F1 car Senna drove at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix will return to the Estoril circuit for the first time since the historic triumph - with the Brazilian’s nephew Bruno in the cockpit.

The Norfolk sportscar manufacturer has announced the car will take to the track on April 21 - exactly 40 years since Senna topped the podium in Portugal.

The Lotus 97T F1 car Ayrton Senna drove in his first race win at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix (Image: Lotus) The three-time F1 world champion drove for Team Lotus from 1985 to 1987.

His victory at Estoril was a masterclass in wet-weather driving, lapping almost the entire field to claim his first of 41 F1 wins.

Senna regarded the performance as the greatest of his career, dismissing the widely held belief that his 1993 Donington win was his finest display, saying: "No way… I had traction control there. It was a good win but compared with Estoril ‘85 it was nothing."

Ayrton Senna on the podium at the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix........

© Norwich Evening News