• Advertise with us
Thursday, May 29, 2025
  • Login
Torquecafe.com
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • 4×4 & ADVENTURE
  • ELECTRIC
  • SUPERCARS & EXOTICS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • CLASSICS & UNIQUE
  • BIKES
  • FEATURES
    • SHOWROOMS
    • DREAM GARAGE
    • TOP FIVE
    • REVIEWS
    • IMAGES
    • VIDEO
    • TV
  • HOME
  • 4×4 & ADVENTURE
  • ELECTRIC
  • SUPERCARS & EXOTICS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • CLASSICS & UNIQUE
  • BIKES
  • FEATURES
    • SHOWROOMS
    • DREAM GARAGE
    • TOP FIVE
    • REVIEWS
    • IMAGES
    • VIDEO
    • TV
No Result
View All Result
Torquecafe.com
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • 4×4 & ADVENTURE
  • ELECTRIC
  • SUPERCARS & EXOTICS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • CLASSICS & UNIQUE
  • BIKES
  • FEATURES
Home NEWS

Exclusive: How McLaren is carrying on the Senna legacy

The nephew of the F1 legend is still part of the McLaren family and shapes its supercars.

Stephen Ottley by Stephen Ottley
22 October 2024
in NEWS
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Bruno Senna with the McLaren Senna at Donington Park

Senna and McLaren are two names that will be forever linked. Ayrton Senna and McLaren were hugely successful on the racetrack in Formula 1, and now the legend’s nephew, Bruno, is carrying on the tradition with McLaren Automotive.

Senna made a flying visit to Sydney last week in his role as McLaren Brand Ambassador, something he has devoted more of his time to since he ended his own racing career in 2020. While his racing career saw him reach F1, including a season with the famous Williams team, he never got to race for the team that helped his uncle to his three world titles. However, he explained that he really enjoys being part of the McLaren group and finds his new role in helping to develop its supercars incredibly rewarding.

READ MORE: McLaren reveals its latest ‘Ultimate’ hypercar

“For sure, I mean, my dream was to race in F1 for McLaren, you know, growing up as Ayrton’s nephew, I always dreamed of racing for McLaren when I was a kid,” Senna told Torquecafe in an exclusive interview. “Didn’t get to do it, I raced in F1, but not for McLaren, unfortunately. So you know, it’s sort of like the second best thing being able to be part of the family still, 10 years now that I’ve been a part of my family.

Bruno Senna drives the McLaren Senna at Donington Park

“And, you know, we’re able to achieve a lot together. I’d never thought about it when I was racing, but when you have a bit of your input and touch on a car and people enjoy it, it’s really rewarding. You never even think about it when you’re racing, because you already think about winning races and making your car good for you but once you, once you do a car that people enjoy, it’s actually quite rewarding.”

READ MORE: Senna still the king at Interlagos

Senna has worked with McLaren on multiple models now, starting with the P1 GTR that launched in 2015 as well as the car that carries his family’s name. The McLaren Senna, which was revealed in 2017, was the completion of a dream that Bruno said Ayrton had but was never able to fulfil during his life.

“The first car I was involved in was P1 GTR, the track version of P1, then 675LT, a bit of 720S and then a bit on McLaren Senna,” he said. “So those like, you know, those are like some cool cars and of course the McLaren Senna was a huge achievement for us as a family because Ayrton always wanted to have a car with his name on it.

READ MORE: Meet the old Le Mans engine powering modern McLaren supercars

Bruno Senna at McLaren Sydney

“It was like something that [he always wanted to do]. You know, the NSX was like the beginning of his thing where he was trying to be involved in it, but obviously he didn’t have much more time to do something after. So, we’ve been looking for the right partner to make a car with forever and then this relationship with McLaren allowed this to happen.”

READ MORE: Sold! Why McLaren’s new owners are a big deal

Bruno explained that the application of the Senna name to McLaren’s most track-capable road car was actually his idea, as he felt it was a suitable model to fulfil Ayrton’s dream.

“I saw the car in the design studio,” he said. “There was a clay model there and they said ‘this is like our most extreme road car, track focus and everything,’ and I was like, ‘why don’t we call it the Senna?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh’ it was sort of like a bit of a moment, where everybody’s like, not so sure. After a bit of talks, then we came to the conclusion that it was a good idea and the car came together.”

McLaren produces this one-off Senna in a tribute livery to Ayrton

He added: “So this relationship allows amazing things like this to happen. And, you know, I was racing two different championships that year, so I was not able to like be involved in the development of the car as much as I wanted to, but you know, the car, the performance of the car speaks for itself, there’s no need to make any more input on it.”

READ MORE: McLaren’s top secret supercar revealed

The Senna was part of McLaren Automotive’s ‘Ultimate Series’ of hypercars, joining the lineage of the F1, P1 and the recently-launched W1. Only 500 examples of the Senna were made, with a further 75 track-only Senna GTR produced. They also built five one-of-a-kind Senna GTR LM track cars to commemorate its dominance at the 1995 Le Mans 24-hours, each with a unique racing livery.

Stephen Ottley

Stephen Ottley

Editor-at-large
Stephen Ottley is an award-winning journalist who has written about cars and motor racing for all of Australia’s leading publications.

Discussion about this post

Related Posts

Forget the Ranger and HiLux: This the most under-rated ute on sale today
4x4 & ADVENTURE

Mazda: Diesel still best for utes

3 hours ago
Hemi V8 return one step closer
4x4 & ADVENTURE

Hemi V8 return one step closer

6 hours ago
Is Kia toughening up the Tasman?
4x4 & ADVENTURE

Is Kia toughening up the Tasman?

10 hours ago

Supercars & Exotics Partners

Other News & Reviews

Forget the Ranger and HiLux: This the most under-rated ute on sale today

Mazda: Diesel still best for utes

29 May 2025
Hemi V8 return one step closer

Hemi V8 return one step closer

29 May 2025
Is Kia toughening up the Tasman?

Is Kia toughening up the Tasman?

29 May 2025
Australian car industry could be reborn with unexpected brand

Australian car industry could be reborn with unexpected brand

29 May 2025

Torquecafe Newsletter

Try our daily email, The best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
GM could give Hyundai a HiLux fighter

New threat coming to Ranger, HiLux and more

28 May 2025
Australian car industry could be reborn with unexpected brand

Australian car industry could be reborn with unexpected brand

29 May 2025
Mazda saves its popular RAV4 rival

Mazda saves its popular RAV4 rival

28 May 2025
F1 star debuts supercar around Monaco

F1 star debuts supercar around Monaco

27 May 2025
F1 brand returning to Australia

F1 brand returning to Australia

28 May 2025
Forget the Ranger and HiLux: This the most under-rated ute on sale today

Mazda: Diesel still best for utes

29 May 2025
Hemi V8 return one step closer

Hemi V8 return one step closer

29 May 2025
Is Kia toughening up the Tasman?

Is Kia toughening up the Tasman?

29 May 2025
Australian car industry could be reborn with unexpected brand

Australian car industry could be reborn with unexpected brand

29 May 2025
GM could give Hyundai a HiLux fighter

New threat coming to Ranger, HiLux and more

28 May 2025

Sign Up

  • Registration
  • Newsletter

About Us

  • What is Torquecafe?
  • The Team
  • Our Values
  • Privacy Policy

Help

  • Contact us
  • General Feedback
  • Advertise with us
  • Site map

Our Network

  • Speedcafe.com
  • SpeedSales.com.au

Our Partners

  • Mobil1
  • Pirtek
  • Truck Assist
  • R&J Batteries
  • KTM
  • Michelin
  • Supercheap Auto
  • Meguiar’s 

Apps

  • Our Team
  • Become a partner
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy & Policy
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • 4×4 & ADVENTURE
  • ELECTRIC
  • SUPERCARS & EXOTICS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • CLASSICS & UNIQUE
  • BIKES
  • FEATURES
    • SHOWROOMS
    • DREAM GARAGE
    • TOP FIVE
    • REVIEWS
    • IMAGES
    • VIDEO
    • TV

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Sign In with Google
OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • 4×4 & ADVENTURE
  • ELECTRIC
  • SUPERCARS & EXOTICS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • CLASSICS & UNIQUE
  • BIKES
  • FEATURES
    • SHOWROOMS
    • DREAM GARAGE
    • TOP FIVE
    • REVIEWS
    • IMAGES
    • VIDEO
    • TV

Copyright © 2023 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.