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Is it really 25 years ago that I turned on the TV at 4.50 am and watched the awful spectacle of the 1994 San Marino Formula One Grand Prix. Much has been written about this weekend but I just wanted to remember a very talented and often controversial driver, Ayrton Senna. That yellow and green helmet depicting his homeland of Brazil will never be forgotten.
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(Ken H)
When Ayrton Senna da Silva first came to race in England against his parents wishes, his talented skills were quickly noted by race car builder Ralph Firman of Van Dieman cars. Ralph had been a mechanic for Emerson Fittipaldi and many young talented Brazilians were helped by Ralph, including Carlos Pace, Roberto Moreno, Raul Boesel, "Chico" Serra and then Ayrton in 1981 driving a Formula Ford 1600 Van Dieman RF 80. He quickly proved he was quick and unafraid !
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Ayrton's first race at Brands Hatch in his RF 80 # 5. March 1981.
(Fred Scatley photo )
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( Ayrton using his aggressive driving style that other drivers hated and the spectators enjoyed to push past into the lead in his # 5 Formula Ford. 1981.)
(Ken Well's photo.)
(Ken H)
Ayrton Senna.
1983. Died May 1st 1994
R.I. P. Ayrton Senna.
Attachment 61690
(Ken H)
In 1982 Ayrton drove in European Formula Ford 2000 races from Brands Hatch to Zolder for the "Rushen Green Racing Team".
He drove a Van Dieman RF 82 and of the 27 events he entered he won an amazing 21 times and came 2nd twice !
Ayrton Senna had arrived on the racing scene.
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Ayrton Senna. Van Dieman RF 82.
( Started from pole, set fastest lap and won the race. March 7 1982. Brands Hatch.) Fred Scatley photo.
(Ken H )
In 1983 Senna drove a Ralt RT3 - Toyota in the Marlboro British Formula 3 Championship.
Under the excellent guidance of New Zealander Dick Bennetts and the West Surrey Racing Team he went on to win the championship.
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Even if there were some incidents along the way.
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That helmet was becoming well known.
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His driving skills were being noted and (Sir) Frank Williams organized a test day for Ayrton at Donnington in the 1983 F1 FW 08C, where he impressed everyone but Frank had already signed drivers for the 1984 F1 season.
It was more than 10 years before he was back in a Williams F 1 car.
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July 1983. Ayrton Senna's first Formula 1 test session at Donnington.
(Ken H)
The final Formula 3 race for Senna was at the Macau Grand Prix, November 20 1983, where Teddy Yip had him as part of his 3 car Theodore Racing Team in Marlboro Ralt # 3.
Ayrton Senna went on to win the event on a track he had not driven previously and Dick Bennetts regarded Senna to be "the best, most raw talented driver that he had ever been involved with".
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Macau. Nov. 1983.
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Teddy Yip and Ayrton Senna before the race at Macau.
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Teddy Yip helped sponsor up and coming drivers such as Tony Brise and surrounding himself with good people, even Hyndman, who is seen here under the watchful eye of Sid Taylor. (Sept. 1975. Inaugural Long Beach Grand Prix.)
(Ken H)