Feb 5, 2026
The iconic Lotus 102 appears on screen in the opening scene of the new Brad Pitt–produced F1 Movie.
The legendary Lotus 102 Formula 1 car is back in the spotlight — this time on the big screen — as it features prominently in the highly anticipated new F1 Movie, produced by Brad Pitt and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
Opening with one of the most dramatic moments in Formula One history, the film recreates the horrifying 1990 Spanish Grand Prix crash involving Martin Donnelly. At the heart of that scene is the Lotus 102, placing this iconic machine front and centre in a cinematic retelling that introduces a new global audience to one of the sport’s most unforgettable cars.
For motorsport fans, the Lotus 102 is instantly recognisable in its striking yellow and blue Camel-sponsored livery. Designed by Frank Dernie, the car embodied early-1990s Formula One design, with bold aerodynamic features including large front wings, advanced underbody and diffuser development, and wide sidepods housing its most distinctive feature — a Lamborghini V12 engine. Notably, the 102 was the first Lotus Formula 1 car constructed entirely from carbon fibre and remains the only Lotus ever powered by a Lamborghini engine.
Only five chassis of the Lotus 102 were ever built between 1990 and 1992. Two were lost to significant accidents, including Donnelly’s near-fatal crash. Of the three surviving chassis, all have since been restored, preserving an important chapter of Formula 1 history. One such restoration was undertaken by Great British Sports Cars, who recently shared insights into the process via LinkedIn, highlighting the care and craftsmanship involved in returning the car to its former glory.
One of the surviving Lotus 102 chassis following expert restoration by Great British Sports Cars.
The car’s appearance in the F1 Movie is not its first return to public attention. Over the years, the Lotus 102 has been showcased at prestigious automotive events including the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Cholmondeley Pageant of Power. One particularly poignant moment came at Goodwood, where Martin Donnelly was reunited with the very car involved in his 1990 crash, driving it once more in front of thousands of fans — a powerful reminder of both the danger and resilience inherent in the sport.
Beyond its cinematic role, the Lotus 102 remains a symbol of Lotus’s final Formula 1 era: ambitious, innovative, and defiant in the face of immense challenges. While it never achieved championship success, its story is one of perseverance rather than trophies — a quality that continues to resonate with fans decades later.
As Lotus looks to the future with hybrid and electric performance cars, the legacy of machines like the 102 ensures the brand’s heritage remains firmly rooted in the present. With its dramatic return through Hollywood, the Lotus 102 is once again proving that it is not merely a museum piece, but a living icon of Formula 1 history — now immortalised for a new generation through film.
The Lotus 102 on secure display inside our newly engineered Icon Auto Vault.
🎥 Watch the Lotus 102 in action — featured in the opening scene of the new Brad Pitt F1 Movie.
Watch on YouTube
Jan 9, 2026
ICON Auto Vault – a fully bespoke containment solution engineered for global transport, protection and long-term preservation.
A New Standard in Bespoke Protection, Preservation & Global Transport
At International Export Packers, bespoke solutions have always been at the heart of what we do. Today, we’re proud to announce the launch of ICON Auto Vault – a next-generation, custom-engineered containment solution designed to protect, preserve and present high-value assets anywhere in the world.
Developed through extensive research, engineering and real-world application, ICON Auto Vault goes far beyond traditional cases or crates. It is a fully bespoke, precision-built vault, engineered around the exact requirements of the asset it protects – whether that’s a rare historic car, a competition motorcycle, or another high-value, irreplaceable item.
Every ICON Auto Vault is engineered around the asset it protects – no two are ever the same.
Designed Around the Asset – Not the Other Way Around
No two ICON Auto Vaults are the same. Each is designed from the ground up, taking into account the asset’s dimensions, weight, geometry, fragility and long-term preservation needs. The result is a tailored solution that delivers exceptional protection during transport, extended storage and presentation, without compromise.
While the initial development focused on automotive heritage, the principles behind ICON Auto Vault are fully retrofittable across a wide range of applications, including:
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Classic and modern motorcycles
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Motorsport vehicles and components
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Museum and heritage artefacts
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High-value engineering or specialist equipment
If it’s valuable, rare, fragile or irreplaceable – ICON Auto Vault can be engineered to suit.
Designed for protection, built for global movement.
Built for Global Movement
ICON Auto Vault is not just about containment – it’s about seamless integration into worldwide logistics. Each vault is designed to operate effortlessly across road, sea and air freight, with handling, lifting and access engineered to meet international transport requirements.
This makes it ideal for:
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Global transport projects
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Touring exhibitions and events
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Long-term international storage
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Complex, multi-leg logistics movements
It’s a complete, end-to-end solution, combining bespoke engineering with International Export Packers’ global transport expertise.
Protection Meets Presentation
Unlike standard packing solutions, ICON Auto Vault also considers how an asset is seen, not just how it’s moved. The vault is designed to support heritage-level presentation, meaning assets can be stored, transported or displayed without repeated handling or repacking – reducing risk while enhancing visual impact.
A True Reflection of Our Bespoke Capability
ICON Auto Vault represents a significant evolution of our bespoke service offering. It brings together engineering, materials expertise, conservation principles and international logistics into one refined solution – and demonstrates what’s possible when projects are approached without limitation.
Precision engineering meets heritage-level protection.
Let’s Build Yours
If you’re planning the transport, storage or preservation of a high-value asset and need a solution that simply doesn’t exist off the shelf, we’d love to talk.
Get in touch with our team to discuss how ICON Auto Vault can be engineered specifically for your asset – wherever in the world it needs to go.
👉 Contact ICON F1 today to start your bespoke ICON Auto Vault project.
Feb 25, 2021
We have been recently asked to supply our F1 Motorhome and also our support vehicle which we use for events in and around Europe (in a normal year!) for a Channel 5 series on special motorhomes . The show is due to be aired at 8.00 pm Sunday the 21st of February , so hopefully it will showcase the Motorhome and explain some of the history of this most unique of vehicles .Comments will no doubt be received after the TV programme . The Uk press have also been making a bee line to Icon for images and updates over the last few weeks.
