Mercedes talking to Senna about German touring cars

Brazilian Bruno Senna is talking to Mercedes about racing in the German touring car championship this year after seemingly losing out on a chance to drive for the former Honda Formula One team.

"There are talks but no decision," Mercedes motorsport vice president Norbert Haug told the German SID news agency today.

The nephew of late triple world champion Ayrton Senna had been seen as a leading candidate to drive for Honda until the Japanese manufacturer announced in December they were pulling out of the sport.

"The DTM starts a month later this year (May 17) so we have four extra weeks to finalise our driver arrangements," Haug said.

"It would be of course good to have Senna at the DTM but it is still pure speculation if this will indeed happen."

"It is clear that even the best name does not help if speed is not there," said Haug. "But Bruno has already proved in Formula 3, GP2 and in his Formula One tests that he does have the speed."

Experienced compatriot Rubens Barrichello, who drove for Honda last year, is now expected to retain the Formula One seat if the team's management buyout plans are given the go-ahead.

Mercedes have said they will provide engines to whoever takes over the team.

Senna, 24, told the O Estado de S.Paulo newspaper yesterday that he was "kind of resigned to trying something else" this year.