This Wednesday (1st), the world of motorsport and Ayrton Senna's fans remember the 30th anniversary of the driver's tragic death. On May 1, 1994, the three-time F1 world champion, at the time with Williams-Renault, died in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix, in Imola, Italy.
The Brazilian was 34 years old and was at the height of his career. In the championship, the driver was leading the grand prix until he lost control of his Williams, at the Tamburello curve, at the Autódromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, and crashed violently into the protective wall.
In F1, Senna made the whole country vibrate with his 65 pole positions, 41 victories and his three titles won in 10 years in the category. Tolemann, Lotus, McLaren and Williams were the teams for which Ayrton shone on tracks around the world, exuding talent, determination, emotion and a bold driving style: his trademark.
Bruno Senna, pilot and nephew of Ayrton Senna, spoke to CNN about why his uncle became a champion on the track. “Everything he had difficulty with, he did to the extreme to become a quality.”
Senna's death stopped Brazil and he had a procession worthy of his history. More than a million people were in São Paulo to say goodbye and pay their last respects to their idol.
Even after the driver's death, Senna's legacy continues to live on among Brazilians through the Ayrton Senna Institute, which has already transformed the lives of more than 36 million children and young people in around three thousand cities in the country.
In an interview with CNN Viviane Senna, the driver's sister and president of the Ayrton Senna Institute, says that the three-time F1 world champion mentioned, while still alive, his desire to create a project to help the country.
“After 30 years, this is no longer a dream, a wish, this is a reality that has already changed the lives of millions and millions of children. In other words, it is a large-scale, consistent operation over many years and with wonderful results, which changed the trajectory of children, families, entire cities in terms of educational results”, says Viviane.
By contributing to improving basic education in Brazil, the Ayrton Senna Institute in a certain way materializes the love that Ayrton felt for children. Nephews of the three-time champion, Bruno and Lalalli remember the loving moments with their uncle.
“He didn’t have the opportunity to have his children, but when we were there, we had this experience. It was incredible to make these messes with him. What child doesn’t like a messy uncle!?”, recalls fellow driver Bruno Senna.
“It doesn't seem like it when we watch the races, but he was a very playful uncle, very funny. He would arrive, grab all his nephews and throw them all up,” said Lalalli Senna, the artist.
Source: CNN Brasil
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