Remembering the audacious Ayrton Senna

We are five weeks from the 20th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death, an event that retains the capacity to chill even at this distance.

Weirdly Senna, a deeply religious man, would have readily accepted his fate since in his worldview the crash at Imola’s Tamburello corner ushered him into God’s realm at the time of the Almighty’s calling.

When Senna slipped behind the wheel of a Formula Car he was communing with God, expressing through his own agency the will of the architect of all things. In death at the age of 34 he was immortalised as one of the greatest drivers in the pantheon. On Friday, 21 March, he would have been 54.

If you were to pick a race that epitomised his gifts the 1993 European Grand Prix at Donington would be high on the list of most. In conditions that test the skill and nerve, wet/dry, Senna went from fifth to first before the end of the opening lap. In a game of musical pit stops (Alain Prost made seven to Senna’s four) Senna finished almost a minute and a half ahead of the field.

Twelve months on there was a terrible sense of foreboding on that tragic weekend, which began with Rubens Barrichello’s violent accident in practice on Friday and 24 hours later the death of Roland Ratzenberger.

As if foretelling his own demise Senna spoke of the fears he had for his own life on the day of the race. The night before he expressed a desire not to participate his girlfriend.

Senna was not only a brilliant racing driver, he transcended the world of Formula One so that his death stopped clocks across the world. His grave in Morumbi, where he grew up, is marked by a single plaque that bears his dates and the inscription: Nada pode me separar do amor de Deus (Nothing can separate me from the love of God).

The Independent