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Fans throng special mass on 10th anniversary of Senna`s death
Imola, May 02: Fans have attended a special memorial mass to mark the 10th anniversary of Ayrton Senna`s death.
Imola, May 02: Fans have attended a special memorial mass to mark the 10th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's death.
Some 1,000 fans attended a special mass at the Imola circuit on Saturday (May 1) to mark the ten year anniversary of Formula One driver Ayrton Senna's death.
The Brazilian three times world champion was killed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. His car speared across the track at the fast Tamburello corner and hit the wall. The front suspension snapped and the wheel folded up against the cockpit surround, punching a suspension component into Senna's helmet, fatally injuring him. He was the first driver to be killed in a Formula One race for 14 years.
Saturday's mass remembered Senna the driver and the man. A proud Brazilian, Senna used some of his money for charitable purposes, and now a foundation distributes charity in his name.
Father Gaddoni, conducting the mass with Senna's racing helmet beside him, told the congregation: "He even wanted a foundation for poor children and the good thing about this foundation which helps poor children in Brazil is that it is still working."
Fans were eager to speak about their hero: "Ten years after Senna's death, I want to be here with my friends of the Brussels fan club, to be here for this event," said Olivier Martin from Brussels.
Fans attached floral tributes, photographs and dedications on the wire fence opposite Tamburello.
"I came from Germany for this moment here for Senna's anniversary," said Dr Matthias from Berlin.
Ayrton Senna won 41 grands prix and took 65 pole positions in his formula one career. He was world champion three times and his success boosted the image of Brazil around the world.
"At the time Senna used to race, he was like a real release for us all," said Brazilian fan, Enrique.
"For all the Brazilian people he was wonderful. And when he used to fly a Brazilian flag after he had won, he used to make us to go delirious," he added.
Senna's death prompted a series of changes in formula one. Safety measures were instituted immediately with cockpit surrounds being raised so that the drivers were adequately shielded. Corners at tracks were modified and run-off areas were extended, and later drivers were compelled to wear a special neckbrace to prevent neck injuries.
The cause of Senna's accident remains open to conjecture and an Italian court last month decided to reopen a manslaughter case.
Bureau Report
Father Gaddoni, conducting the mass with Senna's racing helmet beside him, told the congregation: "He even wanted a foundation for poor children and the good thing about this foundation which helps poor children in Brazil is that it is still working."
Fans were eager to speak about their hero: "Ten years after Senna's death, I want to be here with my friends of the Brussels fan club, to be here for this event," said Olivier Martin from Brussels.
Fans attached floral tributes, photographs and dedications on the wire fence opposite Tamburello.
"I came from Germany for this moment here for Senna's anniversary," said Dr Matthias from Berlin.
Ayrton Senna won 41 grands prix and took 65 pole positions in his formula one career. He was world champion three times and his success boosted the image of Brazil around the world.
"At the time Senna used to race, he was like a real release for us all," said Brazilian fan, Enrique.
"For all the Brazilian people he was wonderful. And when he used to fly a Brazilian flag after he had won, he used to make us to go delirious," he added.
Senna's death prompted a series of changes in formula one. Safety measures were instituted immediately with cockpit surrounds being raised so that the drivers were adequately shielded. Corners at tracks were modified and run-off areas were extended, and later drivers were compelled to wear a special neckbrace to prevent neck injuries.
The cause of Senna's accident remains open to conjecture and an Italian court last month decided to reopen a manslaughter case.
Bureau Report