Barrichello wears Hoffman’s helmet

Rubens Barrichello’s helmet

(GMM) In what could turn out to be Rubens Barrichello's final grand prix, the Brazilian veteran is not wearing his usual white, orange and blue helmet design.

Instead, the Honda driver is speeding around the Interlagos circuit with the livery worn throughout the career of fellow Paulista Ingo Hoffman.

The gesture is a tribute to 55-year-old Hoffman's long motor racing career, which included six grands prix for the struggling Fittipaldi team in the mid 70s, the local O Estado de Sao Paulo newspaper said.

Hoffman, at Interlagos this weekend, is reportedly hanging up his helmet, painted bright yellow and orange, after the 2008 Brazilian stock car series.

Barrichello, 36, revealed that his own familiar white, orange and blue helmet livery was partly inspired by Hoffman.

"The orange color was inspired by the helmet of Ingo Hoffman and the blue top came from Raul Boesel's helmet," he said.