Lewis loses chance to try Senna's car

Lewis Hamilton was unable to drive his childhood hero Ayrton Senna's championship-winning McLaren MP4/4 at the Goodwood Festival of Speed today after the car failed on Saturday.

The reigning world champion's run up in the hillclimb course in the car that took Senna to his first title in 1988 was set to be one of the highlights of the famous event.

But unfortunately the car's gearbox failed yesterday while it was being demonstrated by Ayrton's nephew Bruno Senna.

"I'm really disappointed not to be driving the McLaren MP4/4 up the Goodwood hill - not only for myself and for the guys at McLaren who worked so hard to prepare it but also, and most importantly, for the Goodwood spectators," explained Hamilton.

"There's something a bit special about Goodwood - and there's something a bit special about any ex-Senna Formula 1 car, too.

"So I'm sure the Goodwood spectators were really looking forward to watching it in action just as much as I was looking forward to driving it.

"At least Bruno got a chance to drive it, and to show it off to the Goodwood spectators, so that's the main thing I guess."

Hamilton was still able to demonstrate his own championship-winning car, last year's McLaren-Mercedes MP4-23, instead.

"itv"