Mexican native Carlos Slim, the second richest man in the world, on Saturday purchased the Honda Formula 1 team.
After the deal went through, the Honda team announced that they will be betting on the Brazilian driver Bruno Senna to replace his compatriot Rubens Barichello. Bruno is the nephew of the deceased idol and former F1 champion racing Ayrton Senna.
Bruno will be debuting in the F1 racing world in 2009 after he has been working his way up through the lower leagues of racing.
The Honda team was symbolically bought by Slim for the price of one U.S. dollar.
Slim will have the task of assuming responsibility of the debts and costs of the team in order to keep the team afloat and in contention for winning the competition in 2009.
Honda is hoping the Senna name will have a big impact not only on the sport, but in their efforts to win. Fifteen years have past since his uncle Aryton passed away in an accident during an F1 race. The name has a huge weight in the sport and still stirs up emotions throughout Brazil and the world.
Now, Bruno will have to bear the burden of living up to his uncle's greatness.
(Xinhua News Agency December 29, 2008)
