Thousands of fans have attended a memorial service at Imola as part of a four-day tribute to mark the 20th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death.

The three-times World Champion, the most famous driver of his age and revered by many as the greatest F1 ever seen, was killed at the age of 34 when he crashed out of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. Famed for his speed, admired for his passionate devotion to the art of winning, and elevated to the status of an icon by his magnetic charisma, after this tragic accident, Senna represented and remain an inspiration like the world’s fastest Grand Prix driver in the 1980s and 1990s.

Born in Sao Paulo (Brazil) in 1960, son of a wealthy family, Senna had the chance to get closer to the early automobiles, beginning to compete in karts at the age of thirteen. After an excellent career in the minor Formulas, Senna made ​​his debut in Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix in 1984 at the Toleman-Hart. During his first season he at once gave proof of an exceptional talent for capturing the small British team results ever recorded before, on all the sensational second place in the Monaco Grand Prix, held under a deluge! He closed the first F1 World Championship in 9th place, earning, as well as the Monte Carlo, two more podiums in Britain and Portugal. Among the various teams who set eyes on him, it was the Lotus to sign him for 1985. At the second race with the British team, Senna took victory in the Grand Prix at Estoril in Portugal.

The talent of Senna, however, was not fully expressed in the Lotus team, which allowed him to do well, but not be able to achieve the goal for which the Brazilian ran: the world title. After 3 seasons, finished twice in the fourth and third place in the World Championship with a score of less than 16 pole, 6 Gp and many won fast laps, he abandoned the Lotus for the much more competitive McLaren. Senna, with 8 wins and 13 pole (at the time record), was able to realize his dream of winning the Formula 1 World Championship title with one race at Suzuka in Japan, where to start a heated rivalry with his team-mate Alain Prost. In 1994, Senna left McLaren for Williams, less competitive than when it was led by Prost, moved before him. Driving for Williams, died May 1, 1994 in the race of Imola, where a monument was erected in memory of the pilot inside the mortal turn.

Proved to be an absolute champion in dry conditions, but also and especially in the wet, often succeeding in business exciting, Senna combined the ability to bring his car to the limit with a great sensitivity in the development and selection of tires.

Imola Racetrack opened its gates from 1st to 4th May, so that everyone joined together in the same place, and in our thoughts, with Ayrton and with Roland, remembering that tragic race weekend. The circuit at Imola offered itself as a track for your memories and emotions, enabling us to testify to a great joy and passion for racing and for sport and to commemorate how this sacrifice led to decisive technical changes in the level of safety in Formula 1.

Claudio SANNA