Ist May is the anniversary of the death of one of Formula One’s greatest drivers – Ayrton Senna. He was three times World Champion. and died while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. At that same race meeting Roland Ratzenburger, an Austrian driver, died during qualifying on April 30th. They were the two most recent deaths at the wheel in Formula One racing.
“In most other sports, however virile, the consequence of a small error of judgement, the penalty for a transgression of the proscribed limits, is in reality trivial, however serious the loss of point or a rebuke from a referee may appear in the heat of the moment. But in motor racing the limits are existential rather than artificial, and death is the final arbiter.” - Michael Cooper-Evans ‘Risk Life, Risk Limb’
When Martin Donnelly was seriously injured at Jerez in 1990 Senna said that it was fear that put limits on a driver's speed. 'Without fear one could go faster - but not for long," he said.
The distinctive helmet of Ayrton Senna da Silva.
Ayrton ought not to have died, and did - It was a terribly sad accident that cut me to the core when watching it, Sir - As it did my husband, who still holds Ayrton so dear. Thank you for marking his passing, Sir - My best to you, as ever...
ReplyDeleteI adore your pics of the birds at Chester - You are such a skilled photographer, Sir, capturing their lives so eloquently in such colour...
As always, I leave here a bit smarter than when I arrived.
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