Senna joins Renault as 2011 ’third’ driver

Bruno Senna has resurfaced at Lotus Renault GP.

The Brazilian, whose late uncle Ayrton is the subject of a new award-winning documentary, had a difficult debut in 2010 with the struggling HRT team.

He has not been retained for 2011, instead resurfacing in the Valencia pitlane on Monday morning as Renault launched its new black and gold R31 car.

"It’s a great leap of faith from them to give me this shot, so I’m very happy," 27-year-old Senna, who like Frenchman Romain Grosjean was introduced as a ’third’ driver, said whilst wearing his new black overalls.

Among Renault’s other non-race drivers for 2011 are reserves Fairuz Fauzy, Jan Charouz and Ho-Ping Tung.