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Senna Memorial

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The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di   Imola will be remembered for the tragic incidents surrounding the San Marino Grand Prix on the 29 April to 1 May 1994 when two drivers lost their lives and changed motorsport.  On Saturday 30 April Austrian Roland Ratzenberger was killed and the following day three times world champion Ayrton Senna lost his life when his Williams went straight on at the first corner and hit the wall. Twenty one years later people still travel to Imola to pay their respects and remember what happened in 1994.  On the outside of Tamburello, which was reprofiled as a chicane after the accident, people have left tokens of respect at the spot where Senna’s car impacted the wall.  Most have faded and are worn but they serve as a memorial to one of the sport’s greatest drivers. This is the third year I have made the trip down to the first corner just to pay my respects to Ayrton Senna and also remember Roland Ratzenberge...

Senna Remembered - 20 Years On

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Sunday 1st May 1994 is a day seared into the memory of almost every motorsport fan around the world. This was the day the three time F1 world champion Ayrton Senna lost his life at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari di Imola when his Williams Renault impacted with the wall on the outside of Tamburello Curve. It was the final element to one of the blackest weekends in motorsport history. Austrian Roland Ratzenberger also lost his life in an accident on Saturday and Rubens Barrichello's Jordan also hitting the barriers hard during Friday's practice, the Brazilian taken unconscious to the medical centre but he did make a full recovery. On the 1st May 2014, 20 years after the fatal accident, 25,000 fans from around the world descended on Imola to remember one of the sports greatest drivers.  Two weeks later on Friday 16th May I paid a personal visit to the spot at Tamburello, which is marked by mementos and Brazilian flags, to reflect on the events I witnesse...

Ayrton Senna Memorial

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Yesterday I made what can be considered a pilgrimage to see the bronze statue in memory of arguably the world's greatest ever racing driver Ayrton Senna.  Senna was killed at the Tamburello Curve on the 1st May 1994 in what can only be described as the worst weekend in the modern era of motorsport.  The San Marino Grand Prix saw a series of accidents that started with a big crash for Rubens Barrichello, which hospitilised the Brazilian and then Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger lost his life in a high speed impact.  The following day the race start was interrupted after a major collision on the grid saw debris strewn across the track, however the race continued behind the safety car.  At the restart Senna's car went straight on at Tamburello and impacted with the wall. I remember watching the race at home and, like the rest of the motorsport world, was stunned when we heard the news that Ayrton Senna had lost his life. Tamburello Curve was reprofiled...