Thirty years without Ayrton Senna. Thirty years without the great Formula 1 champion who on 1 May 1994 lost his life after an impressive crash on the Imola circuit betrayed by “his” Williams.
It’s 2.17pm when Senna crashes into the barriers at the Tamburello curve. Silence falls on the stands. And when the helicopter lands on the track, the gravity of the accident materializes in the eyes of the thousands of spectators in the stands. The death of the great Brazilian champion, winner of three world championships, who had managed to win over the public with his humility and charisma, touched the hearts of many, fans and non-fans alike.
The memory of the pilot
On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of Senna’s death, there are many initiatives planned to remember the Brazilian champion. And a delegation from Tuscany will also participate in the event on April 30th organized by the president of the Ayrton Senna Fan Club of Imola, the journalist Carlo Ametrano in Imola.
A day dedicated to the memory of Ayrton but also of Roland Ratzenbergerthe driver who lost his life the day before Senna following another very serious accident during the qualifying of the same cursed San Marino Grand Prix in 1994. Many people linked to the world of motor racing will participate in the event in memory of the drivers, but also writers and fans.
A delegation from Tuscany in Imola
«At the “Ayrton Senna, 30 years later” event held tomorrow in Imola there will be people from all over Italy and beyond – he says Davide Sforzifrom Pistoia, founder ofAyrton Senna Fans Club Tuscany – I created a page on Facebook, which has a thousand members, to keep the memory of Ayrton alive, to ensure that he is not forgotten.”
On May 1, 1994, Sforzi was 13 years old and was watching the grand prix on TV with his parents. «At that time we lived in Turin – she says – I never missed a grand prize. Ayrton was my legend. He was humble, he came from a humble and poor country, he dragged his people to Brazil and perhaps also for this reason he managed to win over fans everywhere. It was a terrible weekend, the darkest in Formula 1 which began with Barrichello’s accident on Friday 29 April, the death of Roland Ratzenberger the following day and then that of Ayrton Senna on 1 May on the seventh lap.”
And precisely on that cursed May 1st 1994 in the stands at Imola there was the then eighteen year old, Carlo Ametrano. It is the first time he has witnessed a Formula 1 grand prix live: «I was right near the Tamburello curve – he says – I witnessed Ayrton Senna’s death. The moment of the accident was terrible: the public in shock, the helicopter on the runway. They should have stopped everything but the race continued until the end. We understood that Senna was in very serious condition. At the end of the grand prix many Ayrton supporters went outside the Maggiore hospital in Bologna. But the news was not good at all, so much so that at 6.40pm his death was declared.”
And even though 30 years have passed since the champion’s death, that wound for Formula 1 fans and beyond has never healed. «Every year I organize this event in memory of Ayrton – explains Ametrano – at the Cantine Zuffa farmhouse in Imola. There will be several guests, from the actress Lory Caradonna to Ruggero Melgrati, Daytona driver and karting champion. But also Mike Wilson, kart driver and the writer Walter Consonni, a writer. Roda Anchidin professional racing driver and test driver. Then Piergiorgio Rotter who will bring the beautiful McLaren. Many fans and enthusiasts will participate in the event, not only Italian but also Brazilian and Spanish.”
For Senna’s death, Brazil proclaimed three days of national mourning: the coffin was repatriated on a flight in which – by explicit decision of the plane’s commander – the coffin was not placed in the hold but in the cabin, in a space created by the removal of some passenger seats, the final act of gratitude to the champion who, during his life, had given so much joy. «Tomorrow and on May 1st Ayrton will also be remembered in Brazil – says Ametrano – where his family lives. They will certainly be well-attended ceremonies.”
The program of celebrations
To remember Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger, the Municipality of Imola in collaboration with the Ayrton Senna Institute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Emilia-Romagna Region has organized a rich calendar entitled “Senna 30 years” including exhibitions, shows and sporting events . On Wednesday 1 May “the most important moment will be at 2.17pm, the time of Senna’s accident at the Tamburello curve”, where there will be a minute’s silence and then, on the stage set up in the area near the site of the impact, greetings from the Vice-President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajaniof the Minister of Foreign Relations of Brazil Mauro Vieiraof the Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenbergof the mayor Marco Panieriof the CEO of Formula One Stefano Domenicali and the president of Formula Imola Gian Carlo Minardi.
At the end, the delegation will move to the Villeneuve curve, the scene of Ratzenberger’s accident, where bouquets of flowers will be laid. In addition to this, there will be a free opening to the public of the Autodrome from 9am to 6pm, a walk dedicated to the two drivers at 9.30am, with the invitation to wear the colors of the Brazilian and Austrian flags, a screening at 4.30pm in the Media Center of the Autodromo, of the documentary on Ratzenberger, the presentation, at 4.45pm, of the book by journalist Franco Nugnes “Senna. The truths” and finally at 9pm at the “Ebe Stignani” Theatre, the show with free admission (by reservation) “Fresi tells Senna”, a monologue on the driver’s life told by Stefano Fresi.
