Grapevine: Donnelly to Drive Senna's Lotus

The former Lotus driver will be appearing at the World Series by Renault event on September 10/11, when he will drive the car Senna used to score his maiden Grand Prix victory at Estoril in April 1985.

The Belfast driver's professional career came to an end after a crash in 1990 at Jerez, following 15 races for Arrows and Lotus.

"Ayrton was a hero to me in my early days," Donnelly told Motorsport News. "I used to have dinner with him and Mauricio Gugelmin at Ralph and Angie Firman's house when I first came to England.

"He was one of the first guys who came up to me when I did my first F1 test in 1989. It's going to be a special feeling to drive the great man's car."

The event is part of a series of demonstrations that take place during the meetings, where historic and contemporary Formula One machinery is displayed. Rene Arnoux will drive a Renault RS01 and a contemporary R24.