Remembering Ayrton

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Legendary F1 driver Ayrton Senna was born into a wealthy Brazilian family in 1960.

Senna enjoyed a privileged upbringing with his brother and sister. His wealthy Brazilian family provided all the money he needed to launch his racing career.

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His father, a wealthy businessman and factory owner, gave him a miniature go-kart when he was four. His deep need for competition and his infatuation with racing began. At ten, Ayrton got his first full-size go-kart. Senna claimed two South American Kart Championship titles in 1977 and 1978.

On a given day, in 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 can suddenly go further. With your mind power, your determination, your instinct, and your experience as well, you can fly very high. - Ayrton Senna

AS Senna rose through the ranks of international open-wheel racing, he became known for taking risks, ruthless competitiveness, and a fierce desire to win.

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Senna won 41 Grand Prix titles and three world championships, including 1988, 1990, and 1991.

And suddenly I realized that I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by a kind of instinct, only I was in a different dimension. - Ayrton Senna

At age 21, he moved to England and joined the action in Formula Ford 1600.

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He drove in the Formula Ford 2000 series the following season, winning several races.

1983, he progressed through the ranks and into the Formula Three series, taking the championship and the Macau Grand Prix.

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His first attempt to race in F1 was with Toleman in 1984. He placed second that year in a rain-shortened Monaco Grand Prix. Bad weather halted the race. Due to a scoring technicality, he placed second even though he took the lead after 31 laps. Senna went on to win Monaco five times in his storied career.

You either commit yourself as a professional racing driver that's designed to win races or you come second or you come third or fifth and am not design to come third, fourth or fifth, I race to win. - Ayrton Senna

Senna moved to Lotus in 1985 and finished fourth in the season. Along the way, Senna claimed victories in Portugal and at Belguim’s Spa-Francorchamps.

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After a successful stint at Lotus, he moved to McLaren in 1988. Senna’s first year with McLaren saw him win eight races and his first Formula One Championship. Teammate Alain Prost moved to Ferrari the following year as tensions between the two developed. A world-class rivalry developed and lasted for four seasons.

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Senna continued winning, claiming thirteen races and F1 World Driver’s Titles in 1990 and 1991. Senna came fourth in 1992 and finished second to Prost in 1993, winning the year’s final race. It was the last race victory of his life.

Senna crashed into a concrete barrier and died of massive head injuries at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

I'm privileged. I've always had a good life. But everything that I've gotten out of life was obtained through dedication and a tremendous desire to achieve my goals, a great desire for victory, meaning victory in life, not as a driver. To all of you who have experienced this or are searching now, let me say that whoever you may be in your life, whether you're at the highest or most modest level, you must show great strength and determination and do everything with love and a deep belief in God. One day, you'll achieve your aim and you'll be successful. - Ayrton Senna

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His F1 career was the subject of the award-winning documentary Senna (2010).

On a personal note, I saw Senna drive in and win the Phoenix Grand Prix in the late 80s. I bumped into him as he and his entourage waited for the hotel elevator.

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Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning Writer & Journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, and business.

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