Roland Ratzenberger tragically crashed and died in only the third event of an F1 career that had taken him 34 years to begin. Born in Salzburg, Austria, Ratzenberger’s racing career began in German Formula Ford in 1983. He raced in various series before securing an F1 drive for the 1994 season.
On Saturday 30 April 1994, during qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix, Ratzenberger ran wide and off the road at the Acque Minerali chicane, apparently damaging the front of his car. On the following lap he approached the flat-out Villeneuve kink and his front wing failed, pitching the Simtek into an unyielding barrier at around 320kph (200mph). He was killed instantly.
Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He made his F1 debut in 1984 and went on to win three world championships. Beyond his driving genius Senna was one of the sport’s most compelling personalities. Though slight in stature he possessed a powerful physical presence, and when he spoke his eloquence was spellbinding. Even the most jaded members of the F1 fraternity were mesmerised by his passionate soliloquies and in his press conferences you could hear a pin drop.
He drove like a man possessed - some thought by demons. His ruthless ambition provoked condemnation from critics but that ambition did not preclude deep feelings for humanity and he despaired over the world’s ills. He loved children and gave millions of his personal fortune (estimated at $400 million when he died) to help provide a better future for the underprivileged in Brazil.
Early in 1994 he spoke about his own future. “I want to live fully, very intensely. I would never want to live partially, suffering from illness or injury. If I ever happen to have an accident that eventually costs my life, I hope it happens in one instant.”
And so it did, on Sunday 1 May 1994. His race-leading Williams inexplicably speared off the track and hit the concrete wall at Tamburello corner at 192 mph. Senna was airlifted to hospital but was pronounced dead that evening.An Austrian flag was later found in the wreckage of Senna’s car. Senna had intended to pay tribute to Ratzenberger on his victory lap.
