In motorsport, when your last name is Senna, you have a lot to live up to. Bruno Senna, Nephew of the late great Ayrton Senna, has dealt with this looming over him for the entirety of his career. Very much to his credit, he has made his own name in racing, seeing seat time in Formula 1 for teams like Williams and Renault. This year, he joins McLaren as part of the automaker’s GT factory driver program.
The former F1 driver’s duties will be assisting in the development of the 650S GT3 and 650S Sprint, as well as fielding a GT3 in certain races.
“I am looking forward to working with the team at McLaren GT who I had a chance to get to know when I raced at the Spa 24 hour a couple of years ago, and I am really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of the new 650S. A lot of effort has gone into the development of the car since the 12C GT3, which I raced, and it made a big impression on its debut at the end of last season. It is shaping up to be a big year ahead,” Senna shared in a statement.
The 650S GT3 is the car that takes over for McLaren’s previous car, the 12C GT3. It houses a 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 that’s married to a six-speed sequential transmission. Power is regulated by FIA regulations to under 500 horsepower, all of which is directed to the rear wheels.
McLaren has recently re-signed Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso, who left McLaren in 2007 after one controversial season. With his return and now the sports car company seating another Senna in its car, it looks like they’re looking to the past for further success in the future.
