Senna, Ayrton

▪ 1995

      Brazilian race-car driver (b. March 21, 1960, São Paulo, Brazil—d. May 1, 1994, Imola, Italy), was a fierce competitor who was renowned for his ruthless and risky maneuvers on the Grand Prix circuit and dominated the sport with 41 Grand Prix titles and 3 circuit world championships (1988, 1990, and 1991). Senna was revered as a national hero in Brazil, and his death, from massive head injuries suffered when he smashed head-on into a concrete wall at some 300 km/h (186 mph) at the San Marino Grand Prix, plunged the country into mourning. At the age of four, Senna was already behind the wheel of a go-cart and demonstrating a determination to win. He joined the Formula One racing circuit in 1984 as one of the most promising new drivers, and he captured the coveted pole position a record 65 times for having had the fastest race-qualifying times. An enigmatic figure who was deeply religious yet highly aggressive on the racetrack, Senna thrilled spectators and cowed competitors with his fearsome driving. He invited controversy over his long-standing rivalry with Frenchman Alain Prost, with 51 titles the most successful driver; the two collided during the penultimate race of both the 1989 season, when Prost emerged victorious, and the 1990 season, when Senna captured the world crown. He reportedly earned more than $100 million during his career, which included an annual salary of some $10 million. Senna's death came one day after Austrian rookie Roland Ratzenberger was killed in a similar accident during qualifying trials. Both deaths renewed concerns about recent rule changes. The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile banned electronics and other drivers' aids from Formula One cars, a move that many believed made the sport more dangerous.

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