Birthday of Ayrton Senna
Today marks what would have been the 54th birthday of F1 legend Ayrton Senna. Depending on where you are in the world Google in running a tribute to Senna via a Google doodle:
Tragically, Senna was killed at the age of 34 at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Over 3 million people attended his funeral in Brazil and the Brazilian government declared three days of mourning for his death.
During his F1 Career he claimed 3 world championships while racking up 41 wins and 65 pole positions. It was not simply statistics that made him one of the greatest ever, but his ruthless determination and ability to push far beyond the limits of what other drivers were capable, or even willing to do. For those that have never watched it, TLP recommends you watch the documentary Senna, currently available on Netflix or on DVD.
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A few years ago Top Gear also put together a good tribute.
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"I was kind of driving it by instinct, only I was in a different dimension. It was like I was in a tunnel, not only the tunnel under the hotel, but the whole circuit for me was a tunnel. I was just going, going - more, and more, and more, and more. I was way over the limit but still able to find even more. Then, suddenly, something just kicked me. I kind of woke up and I realized that I was in a different atmosphere than you normally are. Immediately my reaction was to back off, slow down. I drove back slowly to the pits and I didn't want to go out any more that day. "It frightened me because I realized I was well beyond my conscious understanding. It happens rarely, but I keep these experiences very much alive in me because it is something that is important for self-preservation."—Senna on his 1988 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying.
“On a given day, a given circumstance, you think you have a limit. And you then go for this limit and you touch this limit, and you think, 'Okay, this is the limit'. And so you touch this limit, something happens and you suddenly can go a little bit further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and the experience as well, you can fly very high.”---Senna on pushing the limits of racing.