Bruno Senna signs autographs at the launch of the new Sea Doo Senna PWC, Orlando, Florida, August 2026.Courtesy of Sea DooIn Part 1 of our series on Sea Doo, a company in the BRP group, we covered a first-person experience riding the company's latest version of the venerable Spark personal water craft - the Spark X.Here, in Part 2, we reveal Sea Doo's totally new PWC, the "Senna," named after the legend Brazilian Formula 1 driver, Ayrton Senna. Tragically, Senna was killed at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994, yet his name lives on three decades later.On hand for the launch in Orlando, Florida, was Bruno Senna, a nephew of Ayrton. Bruno, a PWC enthusiast himself, was instrumental with Sea Doo's lead designer Curt Wilson in the multi-year development of the new ski which boasts power of 350 hp and a top speed approaching 70 mph.Forbes sat down with Bruno, 42, to discuss the new product and his own motorsports pursuits. Following are edited excerpts from a longer conversation.AdvertisementAdvertisementJim Clash: When you were a child, you would go out on the water with your uncle and ride PWCs together. Is that where you developed an interest in recreational water activities?Bruno Senna: We would ride all day long during January. We had to redo the engines, that's how many times we went out. The amount of fuel we burned was a bit obscene, to be honest (laughs). But to your question, yes. With him, it was never just relaxing, though. We would race each other. Sometimes I'd pull him on boards or skis behind. It was an adventure, and he loved it.Sea Doo's Senna PWC designerClash: How does this new Senna PWC compare to smaller ones you've driven?Senna: When I first took this out, I started in normal mode, which is a bit more tame. Next, in sport mode, the acceleration was incredible, but the grip in the corners is what really surprised me. We tested in the Florida Keys, and it was super bumpy. If you don't hang on, you'll get flung out.Clash: Were you flung off?AdvertisementAdvertisementSenna: No, but I had full body pain the next day from the physical punishment (laughs). I've never ridden something like this before. It's bigger than other Sea Doo PWC, but you still get great agility.Clash: Compare Gs in the corners on this thing versus in an F-1 car, which I know you've driven and raced.Senna: In the F-1 car, we are pulling five-and-a-half lateral Gs and six on the brakes, which is a lot. In the car, you're belted in and have the sides of the cockpit to lean against.On the ski, you don't pull as many Gs, but it's much tougher. There, you're holding on by yourself through the corners, using your muscles. Plus you have a moving, bumpy surface to drive on. Like I said, on water it's much tougher.The late great F-1 racer Ayrton Senna.Clash: To finish up, what was your uncle's philosophy about racing and life?AdvertisementAdvertisementSenna: He believed he was able to fulfill his potential and wanted to help others do the same. He believed everybody was born with similar potential. He had opportunities, of course, and he wanted to give others that same possibility. He gave a lot of money to charity, even before there were so many foundations, and especially to children's charities. He knew they were the future.This article was originally published on Forbes.com
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