23/11/2011
So it all began with a coffee at the domestic Sao Paulo airport at 7am. Bruno was awaiting us the far side of security with a coffee in hand, and there was no sign of the Bruno mania that we had expected. The madness - where was it?
It was on our arrival at Curitiba Airport that the penny dropped. There,in the arrivals hall were the cameras, the gasps from the public, the jaws were dropping; “it’s Bruno Senna”, we heard them say.
A quick pit stop at a local Renault dealership saw more of the same; an adoration only reserved for the Senna surname. There were autographs, pictures, a whistlestop tour around the showroom and then we were hotfoot to the Renault factory,aka ’Complex Ayrton Senna’.
On arrival, Bruno was guided through to an Open forum activity in the amphitheatre. This gave Renault line managers at the factory the chance to ask questions. Though not picking up the Brazilian jokes (slight language barrier you see), it was clear the talk was well received. It’s what you could call ’the Bruno effect’.
This was swiftly followed by some tours of the various departments; employees brushed up in the excitement jumped up from their desks at the sight of the Sen-meister. It’s fair to say there were a fair share of giggly girls going weak at the knees at the prospect of a photo alongside him.
The ensuing lunch was met with warm approval, as the hungry crowd congregated for a mid-session pit stop. After lunch, we embarked on possibly the highlight of the day (bar the chocolate truffles which rounded things off nicely at lunchtime) - it was time for the tour of the factory floor in three areas. First up was the light utilities assembly, next the passenger car factory and finally the engines factory.
As tours go, this was pretty special.
Credit: Lotus Renault GP (www.lotusrenaultgp.com)
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