It was on a day like this, March 21, that the legendary Ayrton Senna da Silva was born. He would be blowing out his 63rd candle if he were still alive. Unfortunately, in 1994, following a violent accident at the San Marino Grand Prix, he lost his life, like a hero on the battlefield.
The official cause of this fatal accident was a broken steering column. However, several other hypotheses have been put forward: a discomfort on the part of Senna, who was used to driving in apnea for long stretches, a drop in tire pressure due to a possible collision with a piece of debris on the track, or a drop in pace following the many laps covered behind the safety car just before the tragedy. Various opinions have surfaced over the years and it is doubtful that the truth will ever come out (if there is one). In fact, like everything, it could be a source for the special bets’ sections.
A remarkable but too short of a career
Sixty-three years ago today, the city of São Paulo had the good fortune to see the birth of the legendary sportsman Ayrton Senna da Silva, who is still considered as one of the greatest Formula One drivers of all time. In 1984 he started his career at the wheel of his first Toleman TG 184. He was only 24 years old at the time but managed to attract the world’s attention by competing in a Formula 1 race. Ayrton then moved to Lotus for the next two years. From 1988 to 1993, his greatest achievements were at the wheel of McLaren, winning the World Championship three times (1988, 1990 and 1991). In 1994, the young driving prodigy decided to join Williams and the end came for him on the 1st of May of the same year.
The Brazilian driver had a short but intense career. In 161 races he was 80 times on the podium, 41 times winner and 3 times world champion. If Ayrton Senna does not have the most extensive list of achievements in Formula 1, he remains an unrivalled icon whose brutal death has amplified his iconic image.
An extraordinary generosity
The other side of Senna, the one that made him a “lord of the sport”, was his great generosity. Although his charity works was really revealed only after his death because of the approximately 400 million dollars bequeathed to the poor, Senna showed this throughout his life. Such generosity lives on in the Ayrton Senna Foundation, a non-profit organization set up by his sister Viviane at the end of the 1994 season. They give young Brazilians the opportunity to study while developing their skills and talents.
To this day, Ayrton Senna is still an idol in Brazil, where his status has surpassed that of any other sporting champion the world has ever known. To the world he is a legend whom we all miss. Now he shines high in the sky, his works of generosity continue to touch hearts and his sporting legacy continues to inspire. Unfortunately, there was no internet in those days. The more vivid moments of his career could have inspired many more people to turn to sports. And he would be a deciding factor to the entire spectrum of the betting industry. From the top Asian and European bookies, to the newest of punters thinking on where to place a wager for a winner. And that would have been Ayrton Senna da Silva.
