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30th anniversary of death: Imola commemorates Ratzenberger and Senna

Roland Ratzenberger (l.) and Ayrton Senna(Bild: GEPA pictures)

30 years after the fatal accidents of Roland Ratzenberger from Salzburg on April 30, 1994 and the Brazilian Ayrton Senna on May 1, 1994, the municipality of Imola has announced a series of initiatives and memorial ceremonies in honor of the two Formula 1 drivers who died in accidents at the San Marino Grand Prix. A photo exhibition, sporting events and a memorial service are planned in their honor.

"Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna did not lose their lives in vain, Formula 1 reacted after their deaths and took many safety measures," emphasized Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula 1, at the presentation of the event program. The tragedies at Imola changed motorsport forever.

Photo series with unpublished images
The events will begin on March 21, Senna's birthday, with the opening of a photo exhibition featuring 94 unpublished images of the three-time world champion by Italian photographers Angelo Orsi and Mirco Lazzari. The commemorations will culminate on May 1, the anniversary of Senna's death, with several memorial events at the Imola race track. Relatives of Ratzenberger have also been invited.

At 2.17 p.m., the exact time of the accident, a memorial service will be held at the Tamburello bend where Senna lost his life. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and the Brazilian Minister for Foreign Relations, Mauro Vieira, are also expected to attend. Bianca Senna, Ayrton Senna's granddaughter and president of the institute that bears his name, will join in via video.

Ratzenberger died at the scene of the accident
Like a classic tragedy, the accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix unfolded in several acts. On Friday, the declared successor to Senna, Rubens Barrichello, escaped with minor injuries in a rollover crash. On Saturday, Ratzenberger crashed in practice after breaking the front wing on his Simtek Ford at over 300 km/h. The 33-year-old died at the scene of the accident after fracturing the base of his skull in a head-on collision with the concrete barrier.

The Tamburello curve in Imola(Bild: APA/AFP/Vincenzo PINTO)

The horror reached its climax on Sunday. First, a violent collision between Pedro Lamy and J.J. Lehto provoked the deployment of the safety car. Several spectators and police officers were injured by flying debris. Shortly after the restart, Senna went off the track in the infamous Tamburello corner and crashed into a concrete wall at around 220 km/h. The Brazilian was seriously injured. The Brazilian was flown to Bologna with serious head injuries, partly because he had been hit by the right front wheel. In hospital, the doctors fought in vain to save his life.