Auto Racing, Nelson Piquet Sr. will at last make his long-awaited racing return in the new Brazilian GT3 series.

In recent years, the three-time Formula 1 world champion driver has toyed with the idea of racing regularly again, even going as far as officially confirming his participation in Brazil’s Formula Truck championship, a move that never materialized (although his eldest son, Geraldo, did join that series as a Mercedes-Benz factory driver).

Piquet Sr. has bought a new Ford GT to go sports car racing against the Ferrari F430s, Porsche 997s and Lamborghini Gallardos that make the bulk of the GT3 field.

“I’m very enthusiastic about this return,” said Piquet, who last raced in a one-off alongside his other son, Renault F1 tester Nelson Piquet Jr., in the 2006 Interlagos 1000-mile race. “This series is all about what race fans really like to see: dream cars, fierce battles, speed and technology.”

Because of the GT3 series’ driver ranking system, Piquet can’t drive alongside his son Geraldo as originally planned because their combined ranking would be too high. The ex-Brabham, Williams, Lotus and Benetton star will share his '08 mount with youngster Cassio Homem de Mello, a regular in Brazil's Stock Car Jr. championship.