Ayrton Senna
Ayrton Senna da Silva, born on March 21, 1960, in São Paulo, Brazil, was a celebrated Formula One driver known for his exceptional talent and fierce determination. Senna began his racing career in go-karts at a young age, demonstrating significant skill and winning multiple championships in South America. He transitioned to auto racing in the early 1980s, quickly gaining recognition in British Formula Ford and Formula Three before making his Formula One debut in 1984. Senna's partnership with the McLaren team in 1988 marked a turning point in his career, culminating in three World Championships by 1991. His intense rivalry with fellow driver Alain Prost and his controversial racing tactics showcased his competitive spirit. Tragically, Senna's life was cut short in 1994 during the San Marino Grand Prix, when he suffered a fatal crash. His passing prompted widespread mourning in Brazil and around the world, and he is remembered as one of the greatest drivers in the history of Formula One, leaving a lasting legacy in the sport.
Ayrton Senna
Automobile Racer
- Born: March 21, 1960
- Birthplace: São Paulo, Brazil
- Died: May 1, 1994
- Place of death: Bologna, Italy
Sport: Auto racing
Early Life
Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on March 21, 1960, in São Paulo, Brazil. He was the oldest son of Milton da Silva, a well-to-do São Paulo businessman. Ayrton grew up in a loving family environment. At the age of four, his father built him his first go-kart. When Ayrton started school, his father let it be known that if Ayrton did not have good monthly school reports, then he would not be allowed to use the go-kart for a month.
In July, 1973, Ayrton made his debut in his first go-kart race. He started in the 100-cubic-centimeter category. After racing in that category for several years, Ayrton decided to contend for the Kart World Championship. In 1977, the championship was held at Le Mans, France, and Ayrton finished a respectable sixth. He finished second in 1979 and 1980 and fourth in 1981. During his years of go-kart racing, Ayrton won the South American Championship twice, in 1977 and 1978, and the Brazilian Championship four times, in 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1981.
The Road to Excellence
After eight years of go-kart racing, Ayrton decided to try auto racing. Ayrton was a shy young man, but he was brimming with determination. In March, 1981, he competed in his first British Formula Ford 1600 car race, driving a Van Diemen RF80-Ford. His previous go-kart experience held him in good stead, and Ayrton had his first win in only his third race. By the end of the Formula Ford season, he had won twelve of his twenty races.
For all of his talent on the track, however, Ayrton was having difficulty understanding how the racing business functioned. He needed to find financing to advance to more competitive circuits. Moreover, his marriage to his childhood sweetheart Liliane was damaged by his racing frustrations. By the time the 1982 racing season began, Ayrton had overcome his doubts about continuing to race and had found the necessary funding, but his marriage was dissolved after only six months.
In 1982, Ayrton began racing in Formula Ford 2000 races, driving a Van Diemen RF82-Ford for Rushen Green Racing. He competed in both the British and European races, entering twenty-seven and winning twenty-one. Ayrton graduated to British Formula Three races for the next season, driving for West Surrey Racing in a Ralt RT3-Toyota. Ayrton won the first nine races of the season and a total of twelve rounds of the British Formula Three Championship on his way to dethroning titleholder Martin Brundle. Racing experts were amazed by Ayrton’s racing talent, as well as by his complete refusal to accept anything less than victory.
The Emerging Champion
With his Formula Three exploits, Ayrton had impressed various Formula One sponsors. After much thought, Ayrton decided to team up with Toleman Group Motorsport. He drove in his first Formula One competition on March 25, 1984, at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Rio de Janeiro, driving a Toleman TG183B-Hart. Although Ayrton did not win a Grand Prix race during the 1984 season, he impressed larger and wealthier racing teams. Ayrton could not resist the chance to join John Player Team Lotus for the 1985 season, since Lotus could afford more sophisticated equipment. Driving a Lotus 97T-Renault, Ayrton won his first Grand Prix race in Portugal on April 21, 1985.
Ayrton’s first year with Team Lotus was relatively successful; he won two races and finished fourth in Formula One world championship points. Ayrton, though, was disappointed with the results. He made it clear that for next season he was to be Team Lotus’s number-one driver. Ayrton finished fourth again in world championship points in 1986 and third in 1987, however, and he came to the conclusion that he was never going to contend for the world championship unless he changed teams. In 1988, Ayrton joined the Honda Marlboro McLaren team. Alain Prost, a former world champion, also drove for McLaren, but Ayrton nevertheless captured his first Formula One championship by winning eight of the sixteen Grand Prix in which he was entered.
Continuing the Story
Ayrton and Prost were once again teammates for the 1989 season. Both were intense competitors, and relations between the two were not always civil. Ayrton was always an aggressive driver, and his racing tactics were sometimes questioned by those with whom he competed. In 1989, Prost won the championship, and Ayrton finished second. Prost was well liked by the media, whereas Ayrton had no interest in talking to the press. A deeply religious man, he remained close to his family and guarded his privacy. All of his energy was funneled into his racing. Ayrton found little or no time for the added commitments of a world champion driver.
In 1990, Prost left the McLaren team and joined Ferrari. The two drivers again contended for the championship, but this time Ayrton won the title, and Prost had to settle for second place. Ayrton won his third world championship in 1991, while Prost finished a distant fifth. Nigel Mansell captured the title in 1992, and Prost came back to win it in 1993, with Ayrton finishing second.
After the 1993 season, Prost announced his retirement; Mansell had left the Formula One circuit to race Indy cars. Ayrton was thus the odds-on favorite for the 1994 title. Early in the 1994 season, however, Ayrton was leading the field at the San Marino Grand Prix when his car left the course at full speed and crashed into a concrete wall. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries were severe, and he was pronounced dead hours after the accident. The Brazilian government declared three days of national mourning in his honor, and hundreds of thousands of fans attended his funeral services in São Paulo. Even his most bitter rivals mourned him publicly, conceding that he had been one of the top drivers in Formula One history. At the time of his death, his career total of forty-one Formula One victories left him second only to Prost.
Summary
Ayrton Senna combined remarkable racing technique with a fiery spirit to reach the top of Formula One competition. His untimely death was a major loss to auto racing.
Bibliography
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‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. Ayrton Senna: The Whole Story. Newbury Park, Calif.: Haynes North America, 2004.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. Memories of Ayrton. Newbury Park, Calif.: Haynes North America, 2003.
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Senna, Ayrton. Ayrton Senna’s Principles of Race Driving. Osceola, Wis.: Motorbooks International, 1993.