On May 1st, we mark the 30th anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s tragic accident at the Imola circuit. As a tribute, we’re revisiting the most memorable moments of the legendary Brazilian driver’s career. In this first edition, we trace his journey to Formula 1.
Defeated by a Dutchman
Ayrton Senna participated in the Karting World Championship from 1978 to 1982. In the 1980 karting season, he finished second, repeating his 1979 performance. This time, he was defeated by Dutchman Peter de Bruijn. In addition to racing in Formula Ford in the following years, he made another attempt at the top spot in the karting championship. In 1981, he finished fourth, just one spot off the podium, and in ’82, he again failed to secure the gold. A world championship in karting eluded him.
Undefeated Champion in Formula Ford
In 1981, Senna made his debut in the Van Diemen R81 during the Formula Ford 1600 championship. He ultimately won all the races in the championship, becoming an undefeated champion. The following year, he continued his momentum in the Formula Ford 2000 championship. The Brazilian didn’t win all the races, but he still stood on the top step of the podium at the end of the season.
Unbeatable Champion of Formula Ford and Formula 3
After winning the Formula Ford championship in ’81 and ’82, the Brazilian driver continued his streak. In 1983, he participated in the Formula 3 championship, and by the end of the season, he had clinched the title. This photo was taken after he secured his victory in England. Here, he was crowned the Formula 3 champion and was embraced by his mother, Neide Senna. Senna adopted his mother’s surname as Da Silva is a common name in Brazil.
Impressive Testing with Williams Racing
Thanks to his remarkable season in Formula 3, Ayrton Senna was invited to test for Williams Racing. He made a tremendous impression on the English Formula 1 team. In fact, he quickly clocked faster lap times than most F1 drivers of that time on the same circuit.
Ayrton Senna: A Name Known to All
In his debut season in Formula 1, Senna drove for Toleman, a smaller team on the grid. He managed to grab the spotlight once again during the Monaco Grand Prix by securing a second-place finish. He executed an impressive overtaking race on a wet circuit in Monte Carlo. After overtaking Niki Lauda (in a dominant McLaren), the Brazilian was in second place, ready to attack the race leader (Alain Prost). Unfortunately, the race was prematurely flagged due to the weather, and he narrowly missed his first Formula 1 victory. Despite this, from that moment on, everyone knew who Ayrton Senna was, if they didn’t already.
