Iconic
He has the looks, the attitude and the name. Most importantly, Bruno
Senna appears to have the talent.
The
nephew of the late Formula One world champion Ayrton Senna is on the
verge of returning the family's iconic name to the circuit's starting
grid for the first time since his uncle was killed in an accident 14
years ago.
But Bruno Senna's chosen career path hasn't come easy,
especially after his father was killed in a motorcycle accident not
long after his uncle's fatal crash at the San Marino Grand Prix at
Imola.
"It was kind of a taboo. I just had to respect the pain
and the family, I just had to cope with it," Senna told the Associated
Press trackside at this month's German Grand Prix.
Senna's
mother, Viviane, coped by refusing to let auto racing enter her son's
life for the next decade, even if her brother had seen promise in his
8-year-old nephew on the family farm near Sao Paulo, Brazil.
F1 coverage on Sify
But
when his mother asked him what he wanted to do with his life – he was
18 and working at a car dealership to stay close to wheels – the answer
was simple, he wanted to race.
"She wasn't expecting that," Senna said. "It was more surprising
than about getting mad over it for her."
Though she didn't get mad, she didn't immediately acquiesce, either.
"(I
was) totally surprised because he had never said this before," she
said. "I made him wait two years to be sure that it was not just a
(daydream)."
Senna drove karts during that time, breaking six
ribs in the process. The dedication was there, even in a vehicle that
barely contained his 1.75-meter (5-foot-9) frame.
Everything changed in 2005 when his mother brought an old green and
yellow helmet of Ayrton's to Gerhard Berger, a former F1
driver and the Toro Rosso owner. She also showed Berger some pictures
of Bruno, and soon he was invited to test a Formula 3 car in Valencia,
Spain, before eventually competing in the series.
After two years, Senna jumped to GP2 for 2006 and is now second in
the F1 feeder series, 15 points behind Giorgio Pantano in his iSport
car.
But with a lot more attention.
"I'm
quite used to having a lot of attention, since the beginning when there
was no reason to have attention, it was just because of the name. But
now it is because of the name and because I'm doing quite well and
maybe on the verge of going to F1, and I
think people recognize my work," said the Brazilian, whose full name is
Bruno Senna Lalli. "Hopefully most of the interest that I'm getting,
which is growing with each race, is because of the results."
Senna
followed a win on the famous Monaco street circuit in May with a
skillful drive in the rain to take the British GP, demonstrating
similar ability to his three-time world champion uncle.
"With his victory in Monaco, Senna moved into the field of vision,"
Berger said of Senna's growing F1 profile.
Toro Rosso has a vacant seat for 2009 and speculation spread quickly
due to Senna's relationship with Berger.
"They have a Red Bull driver lineup, which is a priority. Toro Rosso
is a Red Bull team. (But) I want an opportunity in F1, whether its Toro
Rosso or another," said Senna, who stopped to autograph a photo of
Ayrton for one of his fans.
The 24-year-old says he doesn't feel rushed to reach top-level
racing despite his late start.
"Not
at all. I had very good bases and it helped me to grow and be strong
inside. When I have bad results I don't get down inside, I keep up the
momentum, the energy, I'm still pushing strong to come back," he said.
"I try to keep on a good run."
Maintaining the momentum became easier when his family moved to
London with him three years ago.
"All
the family is around and it's very nice," said Senna, who counts on his
sister Bianca as his agent. "Not only can you trust your family, it's a
good relationship we have, they have the experience from Ayrton's time,
they know a bit, though they weren't as connected to motor racing as
they are now."
Though he gets by without being recognized in
London, that is starting change in Brazil. Even so, Senna is more
likely to turn heads among veteran mechanics who might have known his
uncle, whom he closely resembles when sporting a cap and overalls.
Senna tells of one McLaren mechanic who went into shock after seeing
him.
"We have very similar lines and very similar ways of speaking and
dealing with things," he said.
Hopefully, Senna can continue to deal with his past and future so
well.
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