Ayrton Senna won three F1 titles during his career (Image credit: Getty)
The historical Imola circuit is set to host the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on 24th April – Imola prepares to pay homage to Brazilian F1 great Ayrton Senna
F1 returns this weekend after a short break with the action moving to Italy for the fourth race of the season. As we prepare for the first race of the season in Europe, Imola is set to pay a special homage to the F1 legend, Ayrton Senna. Senna had passed away in this same circuit, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari after a horrific crash during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
In his illustrious racing career, Ayrton Senna had won three world championships, 41 Grand Prix to go with 80 podium finishes besides taking pole position 65 times. As a tribute to the legend, Imola will pay homage through an exhibition of a repainted McLaren, Senna’s former F1 team.
“Next weekend, during the Emilia Romagna GP, we will have an exhibition with a repainted McLaren in homage to Ayrton Senna. The livery has been made by the French artist Jisbar and will be part of ‘Senna Now’ following which the car will be auctioned”, the tweet reads.
Ayrton Senna passed away in a horrific crash at Imola in 1994
The Emilia Romagno GP was then known as the San Marino Grand Prix. Ayrton Senna was always vocal about the safety of F1 drivers and was the leading figure of the campaign for the cause. As fate would have it, Senna passed away in a horrific accident in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.
During the race, Senna rounded the high-speed Tamburello corner on lap 7 and his car left the racing line at around 307 km/h, ran in a straight line off the track and smashed against a concrete wall. Within two minutes of crashing, Senna was extracted from his car and his initial treatment took place by the side of his car with Senna having a weak heartbeat and significant blood loss. Senna was airlifted to the hospital and was declared dead in the evening.
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