Ayrton Senna commemorated at Imola on 30th anniversary of death at San Marino Grand Prix
Two fans pose near the monument dedicated to Ayrton Senna during an event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna's death at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy. Brazilian F1 racing driver Senna and Roland Ratzenberger of Austria both lost their lives in crashes at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Photo: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images
Ayrton Senna sits on the side of the track after spinning out at the Pacific GP two weeks before his death. Photo: Pascal Rondeau/ALLSP
Ayrton Senna crashes into a wall at 300kph during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. Senna later died at the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/Sygma
The 30th anniversary of three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna’s death is being commemorated with a memorial on the Imola track today where he crashed during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali was joined by politicians from Brazil and Italy, plus a representative from Austria to also recall fellow Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger, who died a day earlier during qualifying.
Ayrton Senna sits on the side of the track after spinning out at the Pacific GP two weeks before his death. Photo: Pascal Rondeau/ALLSP
At 2:17 pm. (12.17pm Irish time), a minute of silence will be held and flowers laid down at the Tamburello curve to observe the exact time and place that the 34-year-old Senna crashed into a concrete wall at about 300kph (185 mph).
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Then flowers will also be laid down at the Villeneuve corner only slightly further down the track where the 33-year-old Ratzenberger crashed the day before. Ratzenberger’s father is among the announced attendees.
Senna, the Brazilian driver who won F1 titles in 1988, 1990 and 1991, was leading the race in Imola when he crashed. Ratzenberger was an F1 rookie from Austria.
Ayrton Senna crashes into a wall at 300kph during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy. Senna later died at the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/Sygma
The attention around Senna’s death brought about safety improvements at the Imola track and throughout F1, resulting in shorter straights, more room around dangerous turns and less powerful engines.
