TJ
30-04-2009, 08:43 PM
For anyone with an even mildly remote interest in motorsport, the name of this thread should already ring a bell.
In case it doesnt, the 1994 San Marino GP was a weekend which shook the motorsport world, and changed the sport forever.
Formula one was going great guns - coming strong out of the late 80's, the sports popularity worldwide was growing, bringing more fans, and more money. The other big improvement over the 80's, was driver safety. In fact, it had been 12 years since a driver was killed in competition. When you consider the death rates during the 60's and 70's, this was an awesome thing.
That run was about to end, and in the worst of ways.
The weekend started out gloomy. Friday qualifying, and a young Rubens Barrichello gets his Jordan airborne over a kerb, launching into a wall at around 220kmh - the car rolls several times, and Rubens is seriously injured.
This pales into comparison for what is to come.
Saturday qualifying (30.04.1994) - Roland Ratzenberger, a name many of you would have never heard, is on his 2nd flying lap, 20 minutes into the session. The lap before, he bounced over a kerb, damaging his wing. At 300kmh, his wing failed. With no way to control the car, the car slammed full speed into a concrete barrier. At 33 years of age, Roland died instantly from a broken neck.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Ratzenberger.jpg/800px-Ratzenberger.jpg
The F1 world was plunged into darkness for the first time in a long time. Without going into it too much, some argued the race should be abandoned. But the show had to go on. One of the most vocal about not racing, was one Ayrton Senna.
Senna, regarded as one of greatest drivers ever, was the superstar of the sport at the time. 3 world titles, and an incredible drive to be the best made him stand out from the crowd.
http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Home/foto/0,,10571891-EX,00.jpg
Having taken pole position for the race, Senna had hidden an Austrian flag in his car - presumably to wave after winning to race to wave in honour of Ronald. But he was never to have that chance. (01.05.1994) After a chaotic start, the safety car was deployed, and several spectators were injured.
As it pulled back in, Senna took off. On his second flying lap, approaching a bend at 320kmh, the car failed to take the turn. At 210kmh, the car struck the wall. The race was red flagged shortly after as medical crews attended to Senna. It was fairly clear he was in big trouble. And despite being airlifted to hospital, he had died on the scene. It was not announced till nearly 3 hours after the race.
To round out the weekend, late in the race a car in the pits lost a wheel - the wheel struck a pit crew member, and he was also seriously injured.
In less then 24 hours, the F1 world lost 2 driver. One, a man who had to battle through so many avenues, just to get a 5 race deal with a backmarker team who was 5 seconds off the pace. The other, one of its brightest lights, and as said, perhaps the greatest ever.
So why the essay?
I was 11 at the time. I had to sneak up at night to watch F1 races, and had been doing so since 1992. I loved F1, and Senna was my favourite driver. Watching him die was like finding out a loved one had died. He was just that type of guy.
Im sure I wont be the only one to be stunned to find out its been 15 years. Where has the time gone? I dont think ill ever forget that night.
RIP to Aryton and Roland.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/AyrtonSennaMormbiName.jpg
In case it doesnt, the 1994 San Marino GP was a weekend which shook the motorsport world, and changed the sport forever.
Formula one was going great guns - coming strong out of the late 80's, the sports popularity worldwide was growing, bringing more fans, and more money. The other big improvement over the 80's, was driver safety. In fact, it had been 12 years since a driver was killed in competition. When you consider the death rates during the 60's and 70's, this was an awesome thing.
That run was about to end, and in the worst of ways.
The weekend started out gloomy. Friday qualifying, and a young Rubens Barrichello gets his Jordan airborne over a kerb, launching into a wall at around 220kmh - the car rolls several times, and Rubens is seriously injured.
This pales into comparison for what is to come.
Saturday qualifying (30.04.1994) - Roland Ratzenberger, a name many of you would have never heard, is on his 2nd flying lap, 20 minutes into the session. The lap before, he bounced over a kerb, damaging his wing. At 300kmh, his wing failed. With no way to control the car, the car slammed full speed into a concrete barrier. At 33 years of age, Roland died instantly from a broken neck.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Ratzenberger.jpg/800px-Ratzenberger.jpg
The F1 world was plunged into darkness for the first time in a long time. Without going into it too much, some argued the race should be abandoned. But the show had to go on. One of the most vocal about not racing, was one Ayrton Senna.
Senna, regarded as one of greatest drivers ever, was the superstar of the sport at the time. 3 world titles, and an incredible drive to be the best made him stand out from the crowd.
http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Home/foto/0,,10571891-EX,00.jpg
Having taken pole position for the race, Senna had hidden an Austrian flag in his car - presumably to wave after winning to race to wave in honour of Ronald. But he was never to have that chance. (01.05.1994) After a chaotic start, the safety car was deployed, and several spectators were injured.
As it pulled back in, Senna took off. On his second flying lap, approaching a bend at 320kmh, the car failed to take the turn. At 210kmh, the car struck the wall. The race was red flagged shortly after as medical crews attended to Senna. It was fairly clear he was in big trouble. And despite being airlifted to hospital, he had died on the scene. It was not announced till nearly 3 hours after the race.
To round out the weekend, late in the race a car in the pits lost a wheel - the wheel struck a pit crew member, and he was also seriously injured.
In less then 24 hours, the F1 world lost 2 driver. One, a man who had to battle through so many avenues, just to get a 5 race deal with a backmarker team who was 5 seconds off the pace. The other, one of its brightest lights, and as said, perhaps the greatest ever.
So why the essay?
I was 11 at the time. I had to sneak up at night to watch F1 races, and had been doing so since 1992. I loved F1, and Senna was my favourite driver. Watching him die was like finding out a loved one had died. He was just that type of guy.
Im sure I wont be the only one to be stunned to find out its been 15 years. Where has the time gone? I dont think ill ever forget that night.
RIP to Aryton and Roland.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/AyrtonSennaMormbiName.jpg