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by Kevin Guthrie

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In 1999 I was fortunate enough to have a brief discussion with a delightful elderly couple from the Austrian city of Salzburg. It became clear that, at a time of life when they should have been content in retirement reflecting on a successful life, instead they were still struggling to come to terms with a tragedy that had occurred five years previously. On Saturday April 30th, 1994, their son Roland lost his life in a horrific accident during a qualifying session for the San Marino Grand Prix.

Immediately following the accident the name of Roland Ratzenberger was being flashed worldwide on TV and radio stations. The newspapers on Sunday morning carried the news of his passing on their front pages. Despite San Marino being only his third Formula 1 weekend his death was the first at a Grand Prix meeting for 12 years. Formula 1's thin veneer of safety had been removed and it was big news. Only a few hours later events at the same circuit would ensure that the name of Roland Ratzenberger would be reduced to little more than a tragic footnote in the history of the sport. On the seventh lap of the race, Ayrton Senna crashed and subsequently died. The most charismatic and famous driver in the world was gone.

Roland's path to Formula 1 had been an interesting one. Throughout his career he showed himself to be extremely versatile and hardworking. He successfully competed in Formula Ford, Formula 3, Formula 3000, European touring cars, Japanese touring cars and sports car racing, including a 5th place finish at Le Mans. Besides the desire for success, Roland competed with a genuine love for the sport. He was ecstatic when the opportunity arose to compete in Formula 1, even though it was with a new team which would inevitably struggle. The opening race in Brazil brought disappointment as the new Simtek failed to qualify but in Aida for the Pacific Grand Prix Roland managed to secure the final grid slot. After a solid driver he would finish 11th in what was to be his only Grand Prix. It proved to be of immense comfort to his parents that he managed to achieve his ambition of competing in Formula 1 before the tragedy at Imola.

Roland was a universally popular in the Formula 1 paddock where he had many friends from his days of racing in Japan. Later they would recall many stories of their time together and the obvious camaraderie which existed. Near the end of Saturday's final qualifying session at Imola Roland's Simtek ran wide but regained the track with no obvious problem. Unbeknown to anyone at the time the front wing had been weakened. On the next lap approaching the flat-out Villeneuve curve the wing gave way under the pressure of the immense downforce produced at 200 mph. Lodging itself under the front wheels Roland was immediately robbed of any steering. The Simtek carried straight on before ploughing into an unprotected concrete wall. TV stations around the globe broadcast live pictures as the pathetic wreckage ground to a halt. The medical crew arrived quickly but, despite frantic efforts, Roland was pronounced dead on arrival at Maggiore Hospital in Bologna. Also present at the crash site was Ayrton Senna, who had commandeered an official car after the seeing the accident in his pit garage. Senna had to be led away, inconsolable, by his great friend and Grand Prix doctor, Professor Sid Watkins. It would later emerge that, before the race, Senna had seriously considered his future in the sport.

Roland had been due to compete at Le Mans for Toyota in 1994. Out of respect, the Japanese firm did not remove his name from the cockpit. At the remaining Formula 1 races the devastated Simtek team carried 'For Roland' on their airboxes. Many of todays fans will be unfamiliar with the name of Roland Ratzenberger, but his death, and that of Ayrton Senna, are still remembered today in other ways. Crash protection at circuits is much improved as is the strength of the cars, a direct result of that terrible weekend. He is remembered in the racing community as cheerful and easygoing off the track, but a determined competitor on it. Despite his death it cannot change the fact that the history books will show, 'Roland Ratzenberger: Formula 1 driver.' He would have wanted that.

Learn more about this author, Kevin Guthrie.

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