Forty-five years after Brazilian rising star Ayrton Senna da Silva – as the future three-time Formula 1 World Champion was known then – burst onto the British racing scene, a sister Van Diemen RF81 in tribute livery will compete in the HSCC-run SDC Classic Formula Ford Championship for Pre-1982 cars, reminding older fans of Senna’s post-karting breakthrough year.

A joint project between Mark and Sara Bates’ Shaws Motorsport team and enthusiastic second-time-round racer Graham Payne, the car was acquired for restoration last summer, with a pair of more modern Van Diemens. Completed to an immaculate standard, it was shaken down at Silverstone in early March and ran trouble-free.

Photo Jacob Ebrey

Payne (67) remembers Senna’s season vividly, for he competed in the BRSCC’s Dunlop ‘Star of Tomorrow’ FF Championship in 1980 and 1981, initially in an ageing Royale RP21 then a Van Diemen RF80, and watched the senior championships from trackside. “I had no money and couldn’t afford to continue, but subsequently had a lot of fun, and success, in Superkart racing,” said Graham.

Roll the decades forward and Payne, retired from a career in the aerospace industry, resolved to have another go at Formula Ford. Having saddled another RF80 run by Shaws last season, the bug bit again and he’s ready to join the regular frontrunners this term. “Mark and I were both keen to replicate Senna’s iconic yellow and black colours, so it’s up to me to do them justice.” The SDC Classic FF championship is set to open with a bumper entry at Snetterton on April 25/26.