In 2022, Brazilian motor racing celebrates one of the most important dates in its history, the 50th anniversary of the first F1 GP in the country, held unofficially in 1972 at Interlagos.
Among the celebrations of these five decades of history, one of the most special for the sport’s fans will be held at the circuit’s main grandstand, when a large sculpture with the bust of Ayrton Senna will be inaugurated. Produced by the artist Lalalli Senna, the three-time world champion’s niece, it was conceived and made as a way to thank the family for the affection dedicated by the fans to the pilot throughout his career.
Named “Nosso Senna”, the work will be inaugurated on November 9 this year, during the week of the São Paulo F1 2022 GP. The work is 3.5 meters high, weighs 550 kilos, and is made of polished and faceted aluminum. It will be located inside the permanent grandstand at Interlagos (named “sector A” during F1), and can be freely visited on days when the racetrack is open to the public.
“This is a special tribute to Ayrton’s eternal legacy and was closely monitored by my mother, Viviane Senna, and my grandmother, Dona Neyde, so that we could have the most faithful portrait of my uncle as possible,” says Lalalli Senna. The first piece produced with Ayrton Senna’s bust, a bronze sculpture, was given as a gift to Pope Francis in 2019.
The tribute to the driver at Interlagos, the place where he started his career at the kart track (now named after him) and also where he had two historic victories in F1 (in 1991 and 1993), should become a new meeting point for motorsports fans, as Bianca Senna, CEO of Senna Brands, explains.
“Interlagos was very important for Ayrton’s career, where he started his career as a driver training at the kart track and where he won two of the most special victories in F1. This work is a way for all of us from the Senna family to repay the enormous affection that the fans always had for Ayrton and we want it to be a meeting point for all of them in São Paulo,” says Bianca Senna.
And this tribute will gain a phygital touch next year. Several interactive attractions will make the sculpture an even more special meeting point, amplifying Ayrton Senna’s legacy and message to the city and to his fans. Through QR-Codes installed near the bust and around it, the public will be able to access videos with more information about the driver, listen to playlists of his favorite songs, and some other surprises whose details are still being kept secret, such as a mini game specially made for the fans who will visit the place.
The project is a realization of the Ministry of Tourism, through the Special Secretariat of Culture via Federal Law for Cultural Incentive (Law No. 8.313/91), with the master sponsorship of Visa, support from Grupo GPS, Cantu Store, Benedito Abbud Arquitetura, and collaboration from Safra Bank and LK2 Construtora.
The creative direction of the project, the exhibition route and its production are signed by Marca Senna in partnership with YDreams Global, under the direction of the Open Sky Museum.
