This is the Imola race track in Italy. In 2004, around 1,000 gathered there to mark the ten year anniversary of the death their hero, 34 year old Brazilian racing driver, Ayrton Senna da Silva. Even today, Senna is considered by some to be the greatest formula One racing driver of all time. His achievements in sport were outstanding. He won the World Championship three times and scored 65, the whole positions in 162 races. He won the Monaco Grand Prix six times, five times consecutive between 1989 to 183. This record still stands.
Having parted company from the McLaren racing team in the 1993, on the 1st of May of the following year, Senna lined up for his third race with the Williams-Renault team at England and as was often the case, he begun the race and pulled position. But several laps into the 1994, San Marino Grand Prix, Senna’s vehicle broke traction twice at the rear. Left a track at Tamburello corner and slammed into a concrete barrier at 218 kilometers per hour.
Despite losing a wheel in the race, the car didn’t seem to sustain much damage but it soon became apparent that Senna’s helmet was punched through the visor. It is thought that the tire and they’ve touched pieces suspension heated causing fatal cranial trauma. His death is even more pointiest coming only one day after a crashed and cliamed the life of Austrian driver, Roland Ratzenberger in practice of the same event.
Senna had been greatly affected by Ratzenberger’s death, which reinforce safety fist that already concerned him. He insisted on visiting the crash light to see what went wrong and when his is examined following his accident the next day, a blood soaked Austrian flag is found inside. He had been intending to race it as his victory frame in honor of Ratzenberger.
As the news of his death’s spread, the Brazilian government declared three days of nations mourning and he was given a state funeral. It was the first death in a Formula One event for 12 years. And controversies surrounded the tragedy when it was suggested that in the two separate accidents, both he and Ratzenberger had died immediately but at being kept on the life support until away from t the track so that the even wouldn’t be abandoned in line facing the laws.
More controversy leading over the road worthiness of the car itself and for many years, the Williams team fought a massive charge through the Italian course. They’re revenge was found not guilty.
Senna’s driving promise wasn’t his only legacy however, after his death, it was revealed that he had donated millions of dollars to children’s charities and founded an institution to help the disadvantaged which s thriving today.
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