Ayrton Senna, the driving legend, passed away in unfortunate accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix 17 years ago today.
A lot has been written about the three-time world champion, much of it about his immense talent, his unfortunate death and his 'playboy' lifestyle.
Instead of repeating what has already been written and is widely available, we'll instead take a look at how he almost missed out on Formula One, how we, the fans, were nearly robbed of the sports greatest driver, his stunning skill and his daring moves which glued millions of us to our TV screens as he battled with other greats.
The Brazilian came very close to heeding his fathers wish to join the family business in the early 1980's, despite proving his driving skills by winning the RAC and Townsend-Thoreson Formula Ford 1600 championships with the Van Diemen team in his rookie year.
Not wanting to disappoint his father, of whom he was very close, he chose to end his motorsport career in England and headed home to Brazil.
Fortunately for us fans, an opportunity to race with a Formula Ford 2000 team came about and he immediately returned to England with a £10,000 loan from his dad to compete, on the grounds that he repayed him when he could.
Senna, under his mothers maiden name, rather than his fathers more common Brazilian surname, Silva, won both the British and European FF2000 titles in 1982.
He and his family knew at that very moment, that the right decision had been made.
Ayrton went on to win the British Formula Three championship despite stiff competition from Martin Brundle.
That led to a Formula One test, and, well, the rest, as they say, is history.
To celebrate his fabulous life, although tragically cut short, we've collected some of the best photo's from his F1 career.
1983: Donington Park, England. Ayrton Senna takes part in his first F1 test with the Williams team.
1983: Donington Park, England. Frank Williams and Ayrton Senna.
1985: Nurburgring, Germany. Keke Rosberg (Williams FW10 Honda) leads Ayrton Senna (Lotus 97T Renault) and Stefan Johansson (Ferrari 156/85) at the start.
1986: Jerez, Spain. Nigel Mansell (Williams FW11-Honda), charges for the line alongside Ayrton Senna (Lotus 98T-Renault). Mansell finished 2nd to Senna with a gap of just 0.014s.
1986: Estoril, Portugal. The three championship contenders; Ayrton Senna (Team Lotus), Alain Prost (McLaren TAG Porsche), Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet (both Williams Honda) line-up for an iconic photo.
1988: Hungaroring, Hungary. Riccardo Patrese (Williams FW12), is lead by eventual race winner Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/4), Patrese finished 6th.
1989: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Riccardo Patrese (Williams FW12C Renault), leads Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/5 Honda), who has Gerhard Berger (Ferrari 640), coming down his inside at the start.
1991: San Marino Grand Prix, Imola, Italy. Riccardo Patrese (Williams FW14-Renault) beats poleman Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/6 Honda) away from the go, but Senna would eventually win.
1991: Monte Carlo, Monaco. Ayrton Senna takes victory ahead of Nigel Mansell and Jean Alesi.
1991: British Grand Prix, Silverstone, Great Britain. Nigel Mansell famously gives Senna a lift back to the pits.
1992: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo. .Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/7A Honda) in 1st position with Nigel Mansell (Williams FW14B Renault) 2nd position close behind, trying to pass in the last few laps of the race.
1994: Tanaka International, Aida, Japan. An accident between Senna, Larini and Hakkinen collide at turn one.
1994: Imola, Italy. Whilst leading the race, Senna lights up the front brake discs on the Williams FW16-Renault. This was the event at which he tragically lost his life.
A lot has been written about the three-time world champion, much of it about his immense talent, his unfortunate death and his 'playboy' lifestyle.
Instead of repeating what has already been written and is widely available, we'll instead take a look at how he almost missed out on Formula One, how we, the fans, were nearly robbed of the sports greatest driver, his stunning skill and his daring moves which glued millions of us to our TV screens as he battled with other greats.
The Brazilian came very close to heeding his fathers wish to join the family business in the early 1980's, despite proving his driving skills by winning the RAC and Townsend-Thoreson Formula Ford 1600 championships with the Van Diemen team in his rookie year.
Not wanting to disappoint his father, of whom he was very close, he chose to end his motorsport career in England and headed home to Brazil.
Fortunately for us fans, an opportunity to race with a Formula Ford 2000 team came about and he immediately returned to England with a £10,000 loan from his dad to compete, on the grounds that he repayed him when he could.
Senna, under his mothers maiden name, rather than his fathers more common Brazilian surname, Silva, won both the British and European FF2000 titles in 1982.
He and his family knew at that very moment, that the right decision had been made.
Ayrton went on to win the British Formula Three championship despite stiff competition from Martin Brundle.
That led to a Formula One test, and, well, the rest, as they say, is history.
To celebrate his fabulous life, although tragically cut short, we've collected some of the best photo's from his F1 career.
1983: Donington Park, England. Ayrton Senna takes part in his first F1 test with the Williams team.
1983: Donington Park, England. Frank Williams and Ayrton Senna.
1985: Nurburgring, Germany. Keke Rosberg (Williams FW10 Honda) leads Ayrton Senna (Lotus 97T Renault) and Stefan Johansson (Ferrari 156/85) at the start.
1986: Jerez, Spain. Nigel Mansell (Williams FW11-Honda), charges for the line alongside Ayrton Senna (Lotus 98T-Renault). Mansell finished 2nd to Senna with a gap of just 0.014s.
1986: Estoril, Portugal. The three championship contenders; Ayrton Senna (Team Lotus), Alain Prost (McLaren TAG Porsche), Nigel Mansell and Nelson Piquet (both Williams Honda) line-up for an iconic photo.
1988: Hungaroring, Hungary. Riccardo Patrese (Williams FW12), is lead by eventual race winner Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/4), Patrese finished 6th.
1989: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Riccardo Patrese (Williams FW12C Renault), leads Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/5 Honda), who has Gerhard Berger (Ferrari 640), coming down his inside at the start.
1991: San Marino Grand Prix, Imola, Italy. Riccardo Patrese (Williams FW14-Renault) beats poleman Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/6 Honda) away from the go, but Senna would eventually win.
1991: Monte Carlo, Monaco. Ayrton Senna takes victory ahead of Nigel Mansell and Jean Alesi.
1992: Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo. .Ayrton Senna (McLaren MP4/7A Honda) in 1st position with Nigel Mansell (Williams FW14B Renault) 2nd position close behind, trying to pass in the last few laps of the race.
1994: Tanaka International, Aida, Japan. An accident between Senna, Larini and Hakkinen collide at turn one.
1994: Imola, Italy. Whilst leading the race, Senna lights up the front brake discs on the Williams FW16-Renault. This was the event at which he tragically lost his life.
