At the Imola circuit, at 2:17 pm this Wednesday, an emotional minute of silence was observed as a heartfelt tribute to the Brazilian. Ayrton Sennalegendary Formula 1 driver who lost his life at exactly that time this Wednesday, May 1, 30 years ago, just one day after the Austrian Roland Ratzenberger lost his life, who was also honored.
Senna, triple world champion (1988, 1990 and 1991), with 41 victories, 65 poles and 80 podiums in the premier category, died on May 1, 1994 at the age of 34 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, during very tragic. San Marino Grand Prix.
A Grand Prix where, in free practice on Friday, his compatriot Rubens Barrichello suffered a cruel accident – without major physical consequences, in the ‘Variante Bassa’ chicane – and where on Saturday, during the qualification, he also had The Austrian Roland Ratzenberger, competing in his first season as an F1 driver, lost his life – when he crashed, at more than 330 kilometers per hour, into the wall of the Villeneuve curve.
The act of honoring and remembering Senna and Ratzenberger, where great personalities from the world of Formula 1 are present, such as the executive director Stefano Domenicalli; as well as the Italian, Austrian and Brazilian governments; and many fans – including many Brazilians – who came to pay their respects, celebrated at the Tamburello curve of the legendary circuit, where the legendary driver himself lost his life.
Furthermore, for the first time in thirty years, the Brazilian champion Williams F16 returned to the track, occupying the position it occupied the day it took the last lap. The car is the only existing original copy of the car that was destroyed during the accident that killed Senna.
At the end of the minute of silence, flowers were laid on the Curva Tamburello and later on the Curva Villeneuve, the sites of the fatal accidents of Senna and Ratzenberger.
“Ayrton Senna, that afternoon 30 years ago, was convinced that he would win because he found the Austrian flag inside his car: he wanted to dedicate his victory to Roland Ratzenberger, his colleague who died last year day: this is a demonstration of how much that sport can and should unite,” declared the Vice President of the Government and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani, at the event.
Senna crashed, at an estimated speed of 220 kilometers per hour, into the wall after losing control of his Williams on the aforementioned Tamburello curve. With serious head injuries, he was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Bologna, where his death was confirmed, which probably occurred shortly after the impact and was caused when debris from the car’s front suspension passed through his helmet, its detachment. The right front tire also hit the head of the Brazilian star.
The mortal remains of the Brazilian myth rest in the Morumbi cemetery in São Paulo.
The Imola circuit will host the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix on May 19, the sixth round of the F1 World Championship. A tournament that continues this weekend in Miami (USA), home to the fifth test of the year.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
