Senna secures F1 drive

Senna: seat with Campos Meta

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The name Senna is to return to Formula One for the first time in 16 years next season after it was confirmed that Bruno Senna has agreed a contract with new Spanish team, Campos Meta.

Senna, nephew of three-times world champion Ayrton, who was killed in an accident in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, had hoped to be racing in the championship this year but saw a potential seat with Honda disappear after they withdrew from the sport.

However, the 26-year-old has now secured his drive for the 2010 season and is thrilled with the opportunity.

"I'm absolutely delighted to fulfil a lifetime's dream," Senna stated via his Twitter page.

"After many weeks of hard work and negotiations, me and my management finally made it.

"I'm very happy and I'd like to share this moment with you. Now it's time to focus and work hard in preparation for next season.

"Lots of hard work to come and, hopefully a great starting point.

"Now it is time to set new targets. The project Campos Meta have developed is designed to succeed both on and off track."

Campos CEO Enrique Rodriguez de Castro was delighted to have clinched the services of last year's GP2 runner-up and said: "It is a great pleasure to welcome Bruno to the team.

Extraordinary honour

"For us, it is an extraordinary honour to be returning the name Senna to Formula One.

"We have followed him closely since his early days in minor series and testified how quickly he developed his speed and skills at GP2 to become one of the most promising up-and-coming drivers of his generation.

"It is astonishing how fast he is entering the F1 scenario after just a few years in motor racing."

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone was also pleased to be welcoming the Senna name back to the paddock and believes it will add value to the sport.

"It's obviously good," he declared speaking ahead of Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"It's good for everybody, good for him and good for the sport. I hope the car is up to him, which is important.

"He's not Ayrton, but then nobody is, although it's good to have someone of that name and prestige in F1."

It has been slated that Nelson Piquet Jnr could join Senna as a team-mate at the Campos Meta team which would see the names Senna and Piquet back in F1 at the same time - just as they were from 1984 to 1991 when the two Brazilians were bitter rivals.

"It'd be good wouldn't it, another good name," added Ecclestone. "That's what's been talked about actually."