IMOLA, ITALY - APRIL 30: Austrian Formula One driver Roland Ratzenberger lies in his car 30 April 1994 just after he crashed during a practice run on the Imola, Italy track. Ratzenberger was practicing for the San Marino Grand Prix 01 May. Ratzenberger died of his injuries according to race organizers and hospital officials. (Photo credit should read STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Roland Ratzenberger passed away as a result of the horrific crash in Imola during the qualifying session of the 1994 San Marino GP
Roland Ratzenberger, an Austrian driver, lost his life on 30th April 1994 when he crashed during qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola. Ratzenberger had damaged the front wing of the Simtek S941 during the previous lap but continued. The high downforce created tore the front wing off and sent it under the car. The car hit the outside wall at 314 km/h ramming the steering wheel inside the cockpit. Ratzenberger was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital in Bologna to which he was airlifted.
Ratzenberger’s crash has become a part of the story of perhaps the darkest weekend in Formula One history. It began with Rubens Barrichello’s crash at 225 km/h (140 mp/h) during practice on Friday – Barrichello miraculously walked out of the hospital shaken and with his arm in a cast, but without life-threatening injuries. Rubens Barrichello’s crash on Friday set the tone for the rest of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Then came Ratzenberger’s crash on Saturday. The very next day, Ayrton Senna passed away in a horrific crash.
The incident occured during the main race of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Ayrton Senna was always vocal about the safety of F1 drivers and was the leading figure in1 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.