Читать книгу Judicial investigation. The death of Senna - Dmitry Nazarov - Страница 3

The surname Senna originates from Naples. Ayrton’s mother, Neide Senna, was the granddaughter of Italian emigrants who moved to Brazil.

Born in 1960 in Brazilian Sao Paulo, Ayrton began his acquaintance with four-wheeled vehicles from childhood. And already at the age of 4 he got behind the wheel of his first kart.

His father Milton da Silva, a prosperous car dealer, industrialist and landowner, surrounded his son with everything that was necessary in the beginning of the young racer’s path, starting with karting. Milton even hired a personal manager for his son who helped Ayrton build a sports career and took care of his image.

Thanks to the foresight of his father and the talent of Ayrton himself, the ascent of a new star was swift. Having won everything that is possible in South America behind the wheel, Ayrton Senna da Silva goes to Europe.

In 1978, for the first time, he takes part in the World Championship, which he is trying to conquer. Until 1982 inclusive. But he failed to win the coveted title of world champion in karting.

However, having moved to England, the Brazilian really showed up in the junior formula series, gaining a place in one of the strongest teams. He immediately wins the British and European Ford Formula Championships.

In the same period, Ayrton and his family have to reflect on the question of whether to go further up the formula ladder or return to Brazil and help his father with the business. Observing the despondency in the eyes of a young man when he stopped racing for a while, the parents eventually choose the first option for their son. And at the family council they decide to conquer the motorsport world. Ayrton will go under the name of his mother, Neide Senna.

The surname da Silva was too common in Brazil.

In 1983, in a battle with Martin Brandon, Ayrton Senna becomes the champion of the British Formula 3. Then he wins the Macau Grand Prix and at the end of the year tests driving the Williams-McLaren-Toleman Formula 1 car. As part of the last Ayrton and gets a place for the 1984 season in the royal races.

Brilliant aerobatics, heavy rain through the narrow streets of Monaco, almost brings Senna his first victory in his debut season. Ayrton passed rivals sliding along the track one after another. And only by resorting to an early stop of the race, the judges then did not allow the debutant to get ahead of the leading Prost.

After three podiums in the Touman car in 1984, it was clear that the British team would not be able to keep the modest, Brazilian miracle. Senna moves to Lotus and already at the second stage of 1985 in Portugal, starting from pole position for the first time in a wet race, he wins his first victory.

All his actions and character are subordinated to victory.

Finishing the season fourth and just five points ahead of team-mate Hélio de Angelis, the Brazilian insists on finding a less ambitious partner for him. Lotus does exactly that. And the next two seasons, Senna spends in the status of the unconditional first number of the team, trying to impose a fight on the faster cars of Williams and McLaren.

Ayrton’s ambitions are accompanied by his talent and skill, leaving no other options but to move higher and higher.

In 1988, the Brazilian, along with Honda engines, moved from Lotus to the team of Ron Dennis. A pair of McLaren drivers Senna and Prost win 15 out of 16 championship races, and as a result, Ayrton wins the first championship title in Formula 1 in 1989.

The rivalry between Senna and Prost has reached a new level of psychological confrontation. The culmination of their struggle was a clash at the penultimate stage in Japan. After the incident, Ayrton continued the race and won it. But after the finish, he was disqualified for returning to the track by cutting off the chicane. The punishment clearly looked political. Prost became the champion.

The following year, the fate of the championship title was again decided between Senna and Prost, but already as part of different teams. The Frenchman, not wanting to be under pressure from the Brazilian, moved to Ferrari. And again their confrontation ends with a collision on the Suzuki. The race management did not heed Senna’s request to move the pole position to the clear side of the track. In response to this, and also mindful of the events of last season, Ayrton did not even try to slow down before the collision in the first turn. This time the advantage on points was in favor of Senna, who became the champion.

In 1991, he won his third McLaren title against Williams’ Nigel Mansell. Iron Frank’s team was gaining momentum, outperforming competitors in electronics and active suspension.

By 1992, his second year, Williams had a perfect technical lead. Senna is trying to get a seat at Williams ahead of the 1993 season. However, they preferred to sign a contract with Alain Prost, who, in turn, blocked the possibility of playing in the same team with Ayrton and eventually took his fourth title.

The Brazilian remains at McLaren for one of his best Formula 1 seasons. Having won 5 stages, including the famous rain race in Donington, Senna completes it with the title of vice-champion. During this time, Frank Williams and his sponsors have themselves shown their interest in Ayrton. Realizing that Alain Prost, who had a contract with Williams, including for the next year, prefers to take the release and at the end of the season vacates Senna’s place in the championship car.

Senna is an angel according to some, the devil is assured by others. He has already received from the press the nickname of the magician and the man of the rain. But at the same time, the Brazilian is remembered when, in the will of emotions, he attacked one of the marshals in Mexico in 1987 and Eddie Irvine after the Suzuki race in 1993. At the same time, it is Ayrton who stops on the track during a training session at the SPA to help the unconscious and Erek Komas and turn off the engine.

In ordinary life, Senna created an amazing aura around him. He was adored by fans and journalists. He loved his country very much and was a deeply religious person.

By the beginning of 1994, an entire business empire had been built around Senna. The multi-story office in one of Sao Paulo’s high-rise buildings manages the assets of the three-time champion and the sale of licenses to use his name.

In parallel, Ayrton is engaged in charity work and is already discussing plans with his sister Vivian to organize a large fund designed to help develop the potential of low-income children in Brazil.

By the beginning of the new season, a series of children’s comics by Senrinya is being published, where the main character is based on the image of Ayrton. In 1994, Brazil expects from Senna, as well as from the national football team of their country, the fourth league title.