Ratzenberger and Senna - 20 years on

[Lighthouse]

April 30th and May 1st marks the 20th anniversary of the deaths of these two drivers at the same race weekend in Imola, Italy. Since Senna we haven't had a single F1 driver fatality, although 2 marshals were killed in 2000/1. There have been near misses. Hakkinen, Wendlinger and Massa were all involved in near fatal accidents, whilst Panis and Schumacher have suffered broken legs. All recovered to the extent that they returned to racing. This has to make F1 one of the safest motor sports in the world today, despite also being one of the fastest. The safety record compared to Indy Car for example is fantastic.

 

I was too young to be interested in F1 back then but I'm sure that weekend in 94 will stick vividly in the imaginations of a great many motor sport fans.

[JackFrost]

There was also the marshal who was killed at the Canadian GP last year.

 

Imola '94 was the biggest wake up call the sport as ever had. It was as closed to 'cursed' as a Grand Prix weekend could get

 

-Senna's death

-Ratzenberger's death

-Barrichello's massive crash in practice (Sid Watkins only just saved his life)

-JJ Lehto/Pedro Lamy crash on the startline where debris flew into the crowd injuring spectators.

-Alboreto's wheel coming off in the pitlane injuring mechanics

-Comas being let out the pitlane and driving full speed towards the scene of Senna's crash, having been told the track was clear

 

That weekend was eerie in many ways, if it could go wrong it went wrong and if it couldn't go wrong it went wrong anyway.

[Lighthouse]

I hadn't forgotten the marshal in Canada although he was run over by a tractor after the race, as opposed to being killed in a racing accident like the two in Monza and Melbourne.

 

That whole weekend was indeed terrible. The little known Wendlinger accident at the next race put him in a coma. Whilst he did eventually return to racing, he was never competitive again and it ultimately ended his career.