Formula One`s focus on Thursday falls on the Italian circuit at Imola where 20 years ago to the day master Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was killed in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
|Last Updated: May 01, 2014, 09:31 AM IST|Source: AFP
Formula One`s focus on Thursday falls on the Italian circuit at Imola where 20 years ago to the day master Brazilian driver Ayrton Senna was killed in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
A memorial service is being held at the Tamburello corner where the triple world champion`s Williams careered off into a concrete barrier on lap seven at 190mph (307km/h).
He was airlifted to Bologna hospital but was pronounced dead at 18:40 local time on that ill-fated Sunday.
Thursday`s ceremony comes after a week of commemorative events held to mark the tragic accident that claimed the life of the driver regarded by many as the greatest of all time and which ushered in a raft of changes to improve F1 safety.
The Senna anniversary is made all the more poignant as another great F1 driver, seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, continues his fight for life after the German`s skiing accident on December 29.
Ironically, it was Schumacher who went on to win the Imola race 20 years ago.
Senna`s death, 24 hours after Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger was killed and two days after his fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello was injured, was the sport`s blackest weekend.
And all this week emotional tributes have been paid to the 1988, 1990 and 1991 champion.
"He was an incredible legend," said 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton.
"You like to think that one day you may be recognised as someone that was able to drive similarly to him," added the Mercedes driver.
"On my schoolbooks I didn`t have pictures of girls, obviously I was too young but I had Ayrton there and the same in my room," said 2005/06 champion Fernando Alonso.
Senna`s sister Viviane, said this week that her brother`s legacy is alive and well through the Ayrton Senna Institute which she chairs.
She recalls a conversation she had with him weeks before his death when he told her how he wanted to contribute to a better future for Brazil by helping to open up opportunities for children.
She said: "Ayrton really wanted Brazil to work, for everyone to have a chance and from this dream the Institute was born.
"Currently, we are working with more than two million children and training some 75,000 teachers per year across around 1,000 cities around the country."
Senna`s death prompted extensive changes, including the reform of the Grand Prix Drivers` Association. Engine capacities were reduced and tethers to help prevent wheels flying off following accidents were introduced.
The HANS device to protect drivers` heads and necks were made compulsory, and run-offs were extended and improved.
As evidence that the improvements put in place worked the last F1 fatality in a grand prix was Senna.
Imola is opening its door to F1 fans from Thursday through Sunday when as well as the Tamburello corner ceremony there will be a parade, a presentation on current F1 security and a F1 drivers` charity football match.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.