Senna for BMW debut
Having conducted a very extensive testing programme at Pembrey and Snetterton with the team, Senna is now scheduled to compete in the remaining three rounds of this year's series. Team boss Trevor Carlin said: "We've tested him for 10 days over two months, and he's been setting reasonably good, consistent times. He's ready to compare himself against the other guys."
By making his debut at Brands, Senna will begin his racing career in the same place as his uncle, who made his debut in a Formula Ford event at the Kent track in March 1981.
The 20-year-old, who was introduced to the team via his uncle's former McLaren team-mate Gerhard Berger, says that his main objective for this weekend's races is to get an insight into competition.
"My primary goal is to get experience in the races. But I'm not going there to be at the back. I want to be up there at the front." Senna, who karted for several years in his youth, but stopped at the age of 10 following his uncle's death, visited the Formula BMW races at Oulton Park in May.
He said: "It's a very competitive series, even in its first year. It's very difficult to get the best out of the car." Senna has yet to decide on his plans for 2005, but has indicated that he is likely to remain in FBMW.
He said: "My plans depend on how the races go. I don't think I'll make any big steps. I'll probably do the full BMW championship next year - it's the safest option. Hopefully I can go for the title, and get the experience I need to move on to F3."
The Brazilian will join Joao Urbano, Christian Bakkerud, Duarte Felix da Costa and Sam Bird at Carlin. The eponymous team boss admitted that the squad was excited about returning such a legendary name to British motorsport.
He said: "It's a great thing for the team and we're very excited about it. His uncle was one of our heroes, so it's been a pleasure to meet and work with the Senna family. But he's not his uncle, he just happens to have the same name as him."
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