Bruno Senna, the nephew of Formula One legend Ayrton, is in the running for a race drive with Honda next season.

The team are to give the 25-year-old Brazilian his first taste of a Grand Prix car at a three-day test at Spain's Circuit de Catalunya on 17-19 November.

Honda team principal Ross Brawn said: "This will be a chance for Bruno to prove he is ready to step up to F1."

Jenson Button will stay on with Honda in 2009 but Rubens Barrichello's position has not been confirmed.

Honda have been chasing double world champion Fernando Alonso, but it is increasingly believed within Formula One circles that the Spaniard will stay at Renault in 2009.

Senna's Honda test makes that even more likely � as does an announcement from Renault team boss Flavio Briatore at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday that he would announce the team's drivers for 2009 on Wednesday.

Although I am still only in my fourth year of motor racing, I have wanted to test an F1 car for a very long time and I feel that I am ready for that challenge Bruno Senna

Brawn added: "Our objective is to have the best drivers available to us next season and our evaluation of Bruno's performance will be rigorous.

"We are looking forward to seeing how he performs.

"Over the next two weeks Bruno will be spending a lot of time with us at our Brackley base, working closely with our engineers and on the simulator to ensure he is fully prepared for this important test."

Senna, who finished runner-up to Italian Giorgio Pantano in the GP2 feeder series, said: "I am obviously very excited about being given my first Formula One test and to have that opportunity with Honda is a dream come true.

"Although I am still only in my fourth year of motor racing, I have wanted to test an F1 car for a very long time and I feel that I am ready for that challenge.

"I have already spent some time at the factory in Brackley and have enjoyed meeting the team and working with the engineers to prepare for this test.

"Everyone has been very supportive and it is particularly special for me to have the chance to work with Ross Brawn.

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"I hope to show the team what I can do, so it's up to me now to do a good job."

Senna, the son of Ayrton's sister Viviane Lalli, has also been linked to an opportunity at the Toro Rosso team.

It is run by former Grand Prix driver Gerhard Berger, who was a close friend of Ayrton, and who has played a mentoring role in Bruno's career.

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