1982

After having raced the first race of the 1982 season with an old modified Lotus 87, starting from the Brazilian Grand Prix Elio was able to use the new Lotus 91. After having scored several points during the season, he obtained the first victory of his career at the Austrian Grand Prix: with five laps to go he found himself in the lead and with one lap to go he had over a second and a half of advantage over Keke Rosberg, but, due to an error in a gear change, the Finn managed to recover the disadvantage. The two reached the finish line side by side, separated by just 5 hundredths. This was also the last victory for Lotus witnessed by Colin Chapman, who would pass away in December of that year. After this success Elio obtained a sixth place in Switzerland, before closing the championship ninth, with twenty-four points.