Today would be the 65th birthday of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, drivers of all time, Ayrton Senna. One can only speculate how many world championship titles he would have won in addition to the three he already has had it not been for Formula 1's dark weekend at Imola...
But even during his short earthly journey, he has blessed us with countless fantastic moments and interesting stories about how he influenced fans, fellow athletes, and the media. Did you know that...
A luxurious skyscraper was named after him in Brazil? The Senna Tower, being built on the beautiful beach of Balneário Camboriú, will be 509 meters tall, and the name isn't the only reference to the legend. The sensational building is being designed by none other than Ayrton Senna's niece, Lalalli Senna!
Did you know that his great rival, Alain Prost, offered him the McLaren? Back then, there wasn't even a hint of what we would later come to know as the greatest rivalry in Formula 1.
Did you know that it was a coincidence that the last driver to see him alive was Erik Comas, whose life Senna had saved two years earlier? On that ominous, sad day, a track closure went into effect immediately after the accident, but Comas drove onto the track due to a communication error and the chaos. By the time he reached the Tamburello, he could already feel "only Senna's soul, which had flown away..." After the incident, Comas burst into tears and reiterated that he would never race again. He retired at the end of the season...
They say the "spirit of the place" does indeed have that. The author of these lines has walked the Imola track, felt fate embrace the silence, the breath of transience, the soul of Senna.
Happy birthday, a wide road on the heavenly racetracks, Ayrton !
Photo: McLaren
