1983

In the 1983 season, Lotus experienced a transition year. After Chapman’s death, Peter Warr took over the leadership of the team. Unlike the English manufacturer, who considered the Italian driver as a son, Elio never had a good relationship with Warr. Furthermore, the project for the new car, the Lotus 93T, started very late and the driver himself repeatedly described the single-seater as undriveable. The English team had switched to Pirelli tyres and had concluded a supply contract for turbo engines with Renault. The first part of the championship was an ordeal for Elio, who reached the finish line only once. With the arrival of designer Gérard Ducarouge, the situation improved: in five weeks the Frenchman made the new 94T available to the drivers and, after obtaining his first points at Monza, Elio achieved his first pole position at the European Grand Prix; in the race he was involved in an accident and was forced to retire. He therefore finished the season with only two points.