Senna, Ayrton (1960–1994)
Brazilian motor-racing driver. He won his first Grand Prix in Portugal in 1985 and won 41 Grand Prix in 162 starts, including a record six wins at Monaco. Senna was world champion in 1988, 1990, and 1991. He was killed at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at Imola.
Career highlights
World Drivers' Champion
1988, 1990, 1991
Total Grands Prix raced
162
Grand Prix wins
41
Total Grand Prix points
614
He started his Formula 1 career with Toleman in 1984, and went to Lotus 1985–87, before joining McLaren in 1988 and winning his first World Championship. He moved to the Williams team in 1993, convinced they could regain him the world title. He was on pole position for a record 65th time when he died after crashing at a speed of 260 kph/160 mph at the Tamburello corner at Imola.
| Senna began racing go-karts as a small child in São Paulo. He arrived in the UK in 1981 to ride for Formula Ford, and progressed through the junior ranks to a place in the Toleman Grand Prix team. He took the 1988 World Championship by just three points from his team-mate Alain Prost, who won the title the following year. Their rivalry bordered on the obsessive, and Senna frequently had fights and collisions with fellow drivers. |
