Next week, Imola will mark 30 years since the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, with Formula 1 boss and local Stefano Domenicali in attendance.
Before the anniversary, Racing News 365 Chat with famous team founder turned circuit boss Giancarlo Minardi.
“May 1 is entirely dedicated to the tragic deaths of both Cena and Ratzenberger,” he says exclusively. Racing News 365.
“We spoke with Ratzenberger's parents, and together we decided that we wanted to commemorate both drivers on the same day.
“In the track museum, we will display Senna Williams' car and the helmets he wore.
“There will be an exhibition of Senna's paintings, and after that we will go to the inner grounds of the circuit, where ministers from Italy and Brazil will be present to commemorate both drivers.”
Remember Sina
Following the 1994 Imola race, the FIA made safety changes, including to the cars themselves. This continues to this day with the invention of the halo – and Minardi believes Senna's legacy lives on because of this.
He adds: “There should be a study into how Ayrton Senna's popularity continues 30 years after his death, not only among older people, but among later generations as well.”
“Senna continues to live from generation to generation, not only because people remember him, but because people care about him.
“It seems like Senna died yesterday, these are my thoughts as well. For me, in reality Senna never died, and that is because his death had a huge impact on the sport.
“Not only in Formula One, but also in the junior categories, a lot of changes were made in terms of safety after his death, and for that we should be very grateful.
“I was present on the tragic day he died, and it remains the most horrific day of my career.
“After that, drivers of different generations can now drive safer cars, which is why, in my opinion, Senna is still alive.”
