Behind the visor – Sérgio Sette Câmara

We went behind the visor with Sérgio Sette Câmara, to discuss the design of his helmet and the back-story of where it all began.

The DAMS’ driver discusses his Brazilian inspired helmet and the small, personal details, which he adds each year to make it his own.

“I have had many different helmet designs, to be honest! I was never the kind of driver to have had just one design since day one and stuck to it. I started karting very young, around six or seven years old, and I probably had my first painted helmet when I was eight.

“As a kid, I had loads of ideas, I wanted fire, a chequered flag, alien colours – it was a mess! I still have that helmet, it is quite funny. After that, I had new designs all of the time, which were generally based around the colours of my sponsors at the time.

“It was at some point when I started to race in European and World Championships in karting, my father had the idea to put the Brazilian colours on my helmet, because I was representing a nation. It was cool to wear my own country's colours at an international race.

“This is the first design that I have kept, the first one which I wanted to finally have as my own style. I realised at some point that I needed to have one design to keep, because you are recognised by your helmet. Everything else changes: your suit, your car, the team.

“I decided for it to really be mine, I had to draw it myself. After that, I worked with a graphic artist in Spain. I went to his office and he pretty much put what I drew onto a digital file, which we then sent over to the painter. As I mentioned, the colours come from an idea of my father, and then, each year I like to add something to the helmet.

“The Senna lines that you can see are part of the design. Of course, he is our hero in Brazil and he is my hero, so I like to have a touch of his design on my helmet. I just want it to be a part of it though, enough so that it is a tribute to him, but not so much that it is suggesting that I am trying to be him - just a tribute. A bit like Lewis Hamilton did back in the day, but maybe a little smaller.

“One of the things that I have added is what’s called a Greek Eye in Brazil, it is something that my Grandmother believes in, which brings you luck. I added a spider to the back as well, because it is my biggest fear. I put it on the back to help me go quicker, a bit of a joke, you have a spider on your back, you better run!

“I also have a Portuguese phrase on there, which me and my father always use. It is difficult to translate, but it is talking about achieving a goal. I remember when I was doing sports as a child and I was tired and couldn't do it anymore, we use to sing this song to keep going.

“On the base design of the helmet, I like to have a seven shape, because my name is Sette Câmara. The original one looked a lot more like a seven, whereas now, you really need to squint your eyes to see it.

“I have a big yellow patch here, so that the driver in front can see it in his mirrors. I think it is quite cool to have a helmet with bright colours.

“Finally, I think in English, this is called the Holy Spirit. You cannot see it too much, because of how the design is made, but you can see the crown and everything. All of my family are catholic and my mother and my Grandmother are always praying, so I have tried to add a few things that they believe in, because I think that it brings good energy and I believe in it too.

“All of these things that look a bit random, they are what I add each year. I always try to add something. I remember each part that way and why I added it that season. I think a bit about the previous season and decide what I will put.”