Jack Perkins will sport an Ayrton Senna-inspired helmet design at Sandown this weekend as part of a Clipsal 500 promotion.
The green and gold helmet colours were made famous by the late Brazilian during a stellar Formula 1 career that netted three world titles.
Perkins’ tribute helmet comes due to a sponsorship with the Senna Club corporate hospitality program that sits alongside the Adelaide street circuit’s Senna Chicane.
The facility, which is presented by Speedcafe.com’s memorabilia partner website OzSpeedShop.com, will next year commemorate two decades since Senna’s tragic death.
“It’s great to be able to pay homage to Ayrton through this helmet,” Perkins told Speedcafe.com.
“I was pretty young when he was racing, but obviously his results and his credibility behind the wheel was sensational.
“He’s right up there on the pedestal with the greatest drivers of all time.
“Having the Senna Chicane on the Adelaide circuit is a nice reminder to everyone each year of his legacy.”
Perkins’ father Larry also used green and gold colours, albeit in darker shades, on his helmets throughout his own career.
Perkins and McLaughlin are looming as genuine contenders for Sunday’s Sandown 500.
The 20-year-old McLaughlin has already won two races during his rookie campaign in the V8 Supercars Championship, while Perkins has tasted his own success with Eggleston Motorsport’s Dunlop Series Holden outfit.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Perkins of Sandown.
“We’ve been working very hard behind the scenes and had a good test day last week.
“Scotty and the team gave me plenty of laps and I’m really comfortable in the car, both with the ergonomics of the car and the way it handles.
“This weekend is a bit of a curveball weather wise, but if we can stay out of trouble our pace should be good enough for somewhere in that top 20 percent of the field.”
