Imola honours Senna and Ratzenberger thirty years after their fatal crashes
It is exactly 30 years this year since Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger lost their lives during the Imola Grand Prix weekend. The circuit management has decided to honour both of them during the upcoming Grand Prix at the Italian circuit.
The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix - as the race was then called - is one of the darkest pages in Formula 1 history. On the Friday, Rubens Barrichello miraculously survived his terrible crash into the tyre pile, but a day later Roland Ratzenberger was not so lucky. The Austrian lost control of his Simtek in the Villeneuve curve and went almost straight ahead into the concrete wall. Ratzenberger's death was reported an hour after the crash.
Ayrton Senna was greatly distressed by the accident and, with slight reluctance, decided to start the race a day later after all. On Lap 6 and at 211 kilometres per hour on the clock, the Brazilian could not steer into the Tamburello corner. The impact into the wall brought an end to the F1 icon's life.
Ratzenberger and Senna honoured in Imola
After years of absence from the Formula 1 calendar and after an extensive renovation of the circuit, F1 has been back in Imola for several years. The circuit organisers have decided to commemorate and honour Senna and Ratzenberger during the upcoming Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. This will be done with all kinds of activities. The exact details will become clear in the coming weeks. The 2024 race is scheduled for Sunday, 19 May.
I can't believe it will be 30 years, I remember it like it was yesterday- I was still in high school. The race should have never gone ahead as under Italian law if someone dies at a sporting event it is cancelled. Roland clearly died at the circuit but as we know the unwritten rule is no driver dies on track.
Yeah,makes you feel old when they say 30 years ago and your first response is,surely not that long ago. Edged in my memory forever,sadly. Back then it was not completely unexpected and was considered part of the risk. It's why I have a hard time respecting the current gen of driver,moaning about other driver over the radio 'they are trying to kill me"....'it'a so dangerous what he did".....they have no idea.Compared to what this sport was,it's like driving wrapped in cotton wool on a track of clouds and rainbows. Bianchi should never have happend,no F1 car will win the battle against that type of equipment,that should have been red flagged as soon a that equipment made it track side. Current drivers and supporters often forget that the current safety standards that are taken for granted,was a result of tracks and cars being made safer to avoid spilling more blood. Also looks.like because the acts are as safe as they are now,drivers take the type of risks that drivers in the 80's would have avoided.Thats why a lot of the incidents looks so clumsy, especially the ones where one driver decided he "had the corner"...so expects a penalty to follow if his opponent makes contact. In the first almost 40 years of F1,you didn't only have to consider if they other driver has the right ti the corner or who will get penalized....you had ti think really hard if you valued your limbs and/or life.
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