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by Kevin Guthrie

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Winning is like a drug, I cannot justify in any circumstances coming second or third.'

- Ayrton Senna

Motor racing is an ideal environment for committed individuals. At the top level of Formula 1 intense dedication and focus are required to be successful, but it is debatable whether the sport has ever seen a driver quite as dedicated and focused as Ayrton Senna.

Following Emerson Fittipaldi's double championship successes in 1972 and 1974 the popularity of motor racing had rocketed in Brazil. Ayrton Senna da Silva (he would shorten his name later) was captivated by it from an early age. He was already driving his first kart at the age of four. In karting he had the opportunity to hone the ability and techniques that would later make him the greatest driver of his generation. Even at that early age his dedication was evident. After performing poorly in a wet race he made a point of going to the local kart track every time it rained to practise and ensure there was no repeat performance. He won the South American championship and on several occasions finished runner-up in the World Championship, a title he was never to win, much to his dissatisfaction.

Karting was fine but Senna knew that, to make real headway in his career, he would have to move to Europe. His talent transferred seamlessly to cars and, after impressing in Formula Ford, 1983 saw him win the coveted British Formula 3 championship after a season long battle with Martin Brundle. That same year he also won the prestigious Macau Formula 3 race.

Such performances had not gone unnoticed and Senna was invited to test for four Formula 1 teams in 1983. A possible seat at Brabham was blocked by countryman Nelson Piquet. With neither McLaren or Williams offering race seats Senna found himself with the small Toleman team for the 1984 Formula 1 season. Although he scored a point in only his second race it was at Monaco that the young Brazilian first came to the attention of the wider public. In wet conditions he very nearly went from 13th position on the grid to take the lead, and probably would have done had the race not been stopped early. A promotional event at the Nurburgring also highlighted Senna's desire to gain a psychological advantage over his rivals. In a race between identical Mercedes, with many Formula 1 drivers competing, Senna was clearly taking it more seriously than anyone else and won in uncompromising fashion.

For 1985 he earned a race seat at Lotus, as team-mate to the likeable Italian Elio De Angelis, who had been with the team since 1980. By season's end De Angelis felt he had effectively been pushed out of the team as they focused their attention on Senna and switched to Brabham, a move that was to ultimately prove fatal. 1985 saw another exquisite wet weather drive from Senna in Portugal, and it brought him his first Grand Prix victory.

After two more seasons at Lotus, and six more victories, Senna left to partner Alain Prost at McLaren, where the Frenchman was already a double world champion. Prost was left in no doubt that Senna had not come just to make up the numbers. In an unprecedented season the McLaren drivers won 15 out of 16 races and Senna took the title. 1989 was again a fight between the team-mates but at Imola their relationship deteriorated after a disagreement about who was meant to win following a pre-race discussion. Over the course of the year the situation got worse, culminating in a collision between the two in the title deciding Japanese race. Although Senna managed to restart he had done so illegally. With his disqualification Prost was champion.

By the end of the 1989 season Prost had had enough and left for Ferrari but the rivalry remained. Again the championship would be decided in Japan, and again it would end in a controversial collision. Senna, angry about the pole position being moved to the other side of the track, ensured that neither driver made it past the first corner. With both cars out, Senna was world champion again.

Senna stayed loyal to McLaren for the next two seasons but their fortunes were in decline. Despite this he managed to finish second in the championship in 1993, including a mesmeric wet weather driver at Donington where he made the rest of the field look like amateurs.

Frank Williams had waited more than a decade to sign Senna, since that first test in 1983. Finally, for the 1994 season, he had him on board. The Williams was fast but difficult to handle, following the removal of driver aids, a move which Senna was firmly against.

It's going to be a season with lots of accidents, and I'll risk saying that we'll be lucky if something really serious doesn't happen.'

Ayrton Senna, 1994

His chilling prediction came true on the Saturday at Imola, venue for the San Marino Grand Prix. Formula 1 rookie Roland Ratzenberger perished in a horrifying accident during qualifying. Senna was visibly affected and did not try to hide his emotions. His own life came to an end the next day when, for reasons unknown, his Williams car failed to negotiate an easy left-hand curve called Tamburello. In the cockpit of the shattered car an Austrian flag was found, which Senna had been carrying in memory of the unfortunate Ratzenberger.

The extent of Senna's fame became obvious in the aftermath of the crash, as it was the lead news story throughout the globe. Brazil's president declared three days of national mourning and millions of fans lined the funeral route in his home city of Sao Paolo. Today, Senna's legacy is still visible. Before his death he had taken the first steps to setting up a foundation to help Brazil's street children. His sister has carried on the work as he would have wished and, to date, the Ayrton Senna Foundation has helped more than 1.5 million children.

Learn more about this author, Kevin Guthrie.

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