Ayrton Senna celebrated

[The Stig]

The Principality of Monaco is celebrating Ayrton Senna during its 65th Formula One Grand Prix this week-end. Senna is the recordholder for the highest number of wins on the most prestigious and demanding circuit of the sport: six victories in ten attempts.

In 1987, the Brazilian driver won for the first time on the Monaco track, and the 20th anniversary of that event is being remembered thanks to a multi-media exhibition being presented at the Fairmont Monte Carlo until May 27th.

Visitors will walk through Senna's greatest moments in Monaco thanks to texts, pictures, films and commentary covering each of his victories in the city. The yellow, green and blue helmets he wore on each occasion are on display along with selected trophies.

Japanese manufacturer Honda, engine supplier of the McLaren cars in which Ayrton Senna won his three World Championships, has lent three cars driven by the Brazilian, each bearing the distinctive white and orange colours of the time.

Monaco is in fact the garden where the Senna legend broke through and flourished. Starting with his first participation at the wheel of a modest Toleman-Hart, the young unknown driver took advantage of a downpour to overtake the other contenders and reach race leader Alain Prost. Over a single lap, he had gained seven seconds behind the driver who would one day become a four-time World Champion. 


Unfortunately, as he was passing the Frenchman's McLaren under drenching conditions only mid-way through the race, the event was stopped for safety reasons, making the previous lap the official last lap of the race. Prost won, but Senna had become known.

In 1988, at the wheel of a McLaren, Senna surprised everyone during qualifying. After recording phenomenal lap times, he decided to end the session long before it was over. He explained that he suddenly saw himself above his car and understood that he was no longer directly controlling it. That day, he made pole position 1.5 seconds ahead of team-mate Alain Prost.

But the public was still in for a surprise. As he was uncontestably leading the race and heading for victory, he crashed his MP4-4 into a guardrail right before the tunnel entrance... and then proceeded to walk directly home to his appartment!

Therefore, a seventh helmet could have been on display at the exhibition in his honour. The 1987 helmet was loaned by a private collector, while that of his last Monaco victory in 1993 was given by Senna to Prince Rainier III. The others came directly from Brazil.