RSS Share 03/07/2006
Bruno Senna To Drive Lotus-Renault 97T For The First Time

Emotional scenes are expected here at Goodwood when Bruno Senna, nephew of the legendary Ayrton, takes the wheel of his uncle’s Renault-powered Lotus 97T for the very first time.

The car - chassis number two - is the one used by the three-time World Champion to claim his maiden Formula One Grand Prix victory in Portugal. With a helmet design similar to that of his late uncle, Bruno Senna will inspire many memories of the Estoril circuit in 1985 as he pilots the distinctive black and gold car up the Sussex hill.
 
Bruno makes his second appearance at the world-famous West Sussex hillclimb circuit after his debut there last year in another Ayrton Senna car, the McLaren MP4/4. The 22-year-old has previously driven a Lotus-Renault 98T raced by his uncle and he expects to feel similar emotions to his experience in that car.

“I drove the Lotus-Renault 98T at Interlagos in 2004 doing some tribute laps in honour of my uncle,” explains the British Formula Three Championship contender. “It was pretty scary because it was a very powerful car and I had never driven the circuit before. I just took it easy and enjoyed the atmosphere of the crowd that day.”

The car is owned by Clive Chapman’s Classic Team Lotus and will be run at the festival by CTL’s small team of engineers. Bruno added: “To drive the car used by my uncle to win his first Grand Prix will be something truly special. He considered the Estoril race to be his greatest ever drive, even more so than his famous victory in the rain at Donington at the 1993 European Grand Prix. It is a great honour for me to be able to experience driving the car.”

“I’m very much looking forward to driving at Goodwood again. You can’t really drive fast up the hill because it is so narrow but there are so many people there to watch it is really good fun.”

Bruno is surrounded by a rich motor racing heritage and has a fanatical following in his homeland because of the associations with his uncle. But after visiting the Goodwood Festival in 2004 and driving at the historic event in 2005, he is excited by the chance to once again be part of the world famous celebration of motorsport in Britain.

He continues: “The Goodwood Festival of Speed is a great spectacle and the public enthusiasm is unbelievable. There are not many places in the world that could host the event in the way Britain does. People who go to Goodwood really love their motorsport and know so much about the history of the cars they are seeing. It’s also great to see so many families and children learning about the sport.”

Commenting on his resemblance to his uncle when in the car, Bruno adds: “My helmet design is a tribute to Ayrton and is designed by the same person who designed my uncle’s helmet. I had it made before I started racing to remember him and also to represent the colours of Brazil. When I drive at Goodwood, it will look very similar to the time when my uncle was driving and I hope people will remember his first victory on the way to becoming a champion.”

Another iconic car to watch for is the RE30B, Renault’s Formula One challenger in 1982. With RE30-35 the team was very competitive, winning the French, Dutch and Italian Grands Prix. The ‘B’ version of RE30 ran in 1982 claiming victories at Grands Prix in South Africa, Brazil, France and Italy. René Arnoux will be at the wheel as RE30B charges up the hillclimb course.