Ayrton Senna Trivia

1. In 1991 Ayrton reached another landmark in his career when he won the Brazilian Grand Prix for the first time. It looked like it was going to be an easy victory until something went wrong seven laps from the finish. What went wrong?

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: The Making of a Legend

Answer: The gearbox was stuck in sixth gear

Senna started on pole position in the 1991 Brazilian Grand Prix. Seven laps from the end he had built a comfortable lead. Then his gearbox jammed, stuck in sixth gear. Senna had never won in Brazil before and was extremely motivated to win this race, despite the technical malfunction. Somehow he managed to keep the car going without losing too much time. He crossed the finish line first, three seconds before Riccardo Patrese (Williams). He was so exhausted he had to be lifted from the car, suffering from severe shoulder and neck cramps. Senna won seven races in 1991, among which the first four of the season. Towards the end of the season the Williams cars were getting stronger and stronger, but Senna had a big enough lead. A second place in the Japanese Grand Prix was enough to clinch his third F1 world championship. Ferrari had an uncompetitive car in the 1991 season, so Prost wasn't a problem. He didn't win a single race and was sacked by Ferrari before the end of the season.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: Rise to the Top

Answer: Da Silva

Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in São Paulo on March 21, 1960. His mother Neyde Senna was a housewife, his father Milton da Silva owned a metalworking company and a store that sold car accessories. He had an elder sister, Viviane, and later younger brother Leonardo was born. Because was born into a wealthy family he enjoyed a good education and had the liberty to pursue the career he wanted, unlike many of his Brazilian countrymen. Somewhere during his career he chose to race under the name Senna. Da Silva is a very common name in Brazil, and being known as Senna made him stand out more, what was interesting to attract sponsorship. Another Brazilian world champion, Nelson Piquet, had done the same thing. His full name is Nelson Piquet Souto Maior. For the same reason he had chosen to race only under his mother's name. Ayrton's nephew Bruno (Viviane's son), who also drove in F1 for a couple of years, also chose to race under the name Senna. His father's name is Lalli. Edson Arantes do Nascimento is the real name of Brazilian soccer star Pele.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: 21 March 1960

He was born Ayrton Senna da Silva in Sao Paulo, Brazil, second child to Milton and Neide. He was diagnosed with a motor co-ordination problem at an early age, and his father, who owned a car components company, gave 4-year old Ayrton a kart to help him overcome this problem. It was the start to a great future.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna Tragedy

Answer: May 1, 1994

It was on May day. A very sad event indeed.

From Quiz Ayrton Forever

Answer: Brazil 1984

He began at the young age of 24 and was world champion by 28.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: Martin Brundle

Senna beat Brundle in a thrilling last round at Thruxton.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: 21st March 1960

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: The Making of a Legend

Answer: Nigel Mansell

Nigel Mansell was leading the Monaco Grand Prix when he had to make an unscheduled pit stop on lap 70. When he left the pits Senna had taken the lead, five seconds in front. Mansell had fresher tyres and caught Senna by three seconds a lap. Despite this massive advantage he could not manage to overtake Senna, who made full use of Monaco's narrow track. It was Senna's fifth victory in the Monaco Grand Prix. In 1993 he would win the race a sixth and final time. To compare with other greats: Michael Schumacher and Graham Hill each won the Monaco Grand Prix five times, Alain prost won it four times. Monaco was one of only a few races where Senna stood a chance against the Williams cars. He would only win three races that year, and finish fourth in the championship. Nigel Mansell completely dominated the season, and was already crowned world champion after the Hungarian Grand Prix, five races from the end. His teammate at Williams, Riccardo Patrese, finished second in the championship.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: Rise to the Top

Answer: Pole position

The race was organised among friends out of normal competition. Ayrton got lucky and drew first place. He was only eight, and raced against 15 to 20 year olds. For most of the race he was able to keep the lead, mainly because he was lighter than the others and was therefore able to pull away on the straights. Near the end of the race, when he was in third position, he was hit by another driver who tried to overtake him. He didn't finish but after this first race experience he knew he wanted more. In formula 1 Senna would be on pole 65 times from 161 starts, a record until Michael Schumacher broke it. Schumacher was on pole 68 times, but he needed 307 starts to achieve this. Ayrton drove his first real race when he was 13. The event took place at Interlagos, where he met Emerson Fittipaldi who would become a friend for the rest of his life. From 1973 till 1977 Ayrton drove in Brazilian kart championships. He became South American kart champion in 1977. From 1978 till 1982 he participated in several world championship kart races in Europe. During his karting years he learned the racing and technical skills that he would later need as a professional racing driver. There's an anecdote from his karting days typical of Senna's exceptional ability to feel how a car could be improved. During a test session for Angelo Parilla's team (DAP) Senna complained that one tyre was bigger than the other. Parilla said this was impossible but checked anyway. To his amazement he found out that one tyre was bigger indeed, by one millimetre.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: Thruxton

Martin Brundle and Ayrton began the year as preseason favourites, and it was only at the final race at Thruxton that Ayrton clinched the championship. Ayrton began his F1 career with Toleman the next year.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna Tragedy

Answer: Enzo e Dino Ferrari

This circuit, amidst the splendid vineyards of Emilia Romagna in San Marino had always signaled optimism, but not after the tragedy.

From Quiz Ayrton Forever

Answer: 41

His 41st and last victory was in my home town Adelaide, Australia on 7th November 1993.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: 1986

Senna took his 3 poles at Rio, Imola and Jerez.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: 1977

Only four years after competing in his first professional kart race, Senna wrapped up his first SA title quite comfortably.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: The Making of a Legend

Answer: Prost had a clause in his contract that determined that Senna couldn't be his teammate

It was clear for everybody that Williams was superior in 1992, and that it was the car to have if you wanted a shot at the 1993 championship. Prost had taken a sabbatical in 1992, and spent his time trying to get into the Williams for the 1993 season. Renault was Williams' engine supplier, and one of the main sponsors was also a French company (Elf). Renault supported Prost's claim for the 1993 Williams seat, and since Williams owed much of its superiority to their engine supplier the deal was a forgone conclusion. The French connection had worked again. Prost had negotiated a clause in his contract that said Senna couldn't be his teammate in 1993. This effectively blocked Senna from racing for Williams in 1993. Damon Hill would get the second Williams seat. Williams announced Prost would drive for them one the day of the 1992 Portuguese Grand Prix, won by Nigel Mansell. Senna was third in that race and said this about the matter during the post-race press conference: "The way he (Prost) is doing it, he's behaving like a coward. It's like when you're going to have a 100 meter running sprint, and he wants to have running shoes, and everybody else should have lead shoes, that's the way he wants to race". Mansell nodded in agreement.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: Rise to the Top

Answer: Mauricio Gugelmin

In 1981 Ayrton moved to Europe to compete in Formula Ford 1600 championships, the first steps on the way to Formula 1. Already after a couple of test laps it was clear he would be fast and consistent in cars that are very different from karts. In his first year in England he lived with his wife Lilian whom he had married just before leaving Brazil. The marriage didn't last. Lilian couldn't adapt to life in Europe, and the couple divorced after less than a year. It is a safe bet to assume Ayrton spent more time with his car than with his wife. He won two of the three championships he entered. In 1981 he returned to England, this time to compete in Formula Ford 2000, the next step. To save money he lived in the same place as fellow Brazilian Mauricio Gugelmin, who then was competing in FF1600. Senna dominated again by winning 21 races from 27 starts. He showed an amazing ability to be fast immediately in cars he had never raced before. A couple of years after Senna, Gugelmin would also make it into Formula 1. He competed for five seasons, from 1988 till 1992, and then moved to IndyCar. His best result was a third place in the 1989 Brazilian Grand Prix.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: South Africa

In Ayrton's second F1 race he came 6th, scoring 1 point, in his Toleman number 19.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna Tragedy

Answer: Williams

He had been transferred here only at the start of the year. Did it prove unlucky?

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: Ayrton Senna da Silva

Ayrton Senna da Silva was born on the March 21, 1960.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: 12

Senna dominated the 1981 Formula Ford 1600 Championship. He won races at Brands Hatch (2), Oulton Park (all 3), Mallory Park (2), Snetterton (2), Donington (2) and Thruxton. Senna won both the RAC FF Championship and the Townsend-Thoreson (TT) Championship.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: The Making of a Legend

Answer: Donington

To give an idea of the superiority of the Williams-Renault: Prost had won the first race of the season, the South African Grand Prix, with an advantage of 1 minute 20 seconds over Senna. In the Brazilian Grand Prix, Prost had taken pole position with an advantage of 1.8 seconds over Senna. Prost crashed out of the Brazilian Grand Prix when it started to rain. Senna won the race, his second victory before his home crowd. The European Grand Prix was the third race of the season. It would be the only Grand Prix ever driven at Donington that counted for a Formula 1 world championship, but it was a classic. Senna started from fourth place, lost a place at the start, but then overtook four cars on the first lap. It was a crazy race. First it rained, then it dried out, then it started to rain again. It is a golden rule to always be on the right tyres on the right moment. Senna changed tyres five times during the race, but Hill changed six times, and Prost even seven times. By the end of the race Hill was 1 minute 23 seconds behind, with Prost a full lap behind. In the post-race press conference Prost tried to find excuses for his poor race by complaining about his car. Senna suggested that maybe they should swap cars. Senna later won the Monaco Grand Prix for the sixth time, but then there were no more wet races or particular tracks. The Williams car asserted its superiority, and after the Portuguese Grand Prix Prost had already wrapped up the world championship. Prost had announced he would retire before the Portuguese Grand Prix. Senna would replace him at Williams. Senna won the two last races of the season. During the podium ceremony after the Australian Grand Prix Senna pulled Prost next to him on the top step of the podium. It would be the last time either of them would be on the podium. Senna won 41 Grand Prix in his illustrious career.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: The Battle Against Prost

Answer: Jean-Marie Balestre

FISA was an autonomous committee within FIA (International Automobile Federation), responsible for organising and governing motor races. Balestre was president of FISA from 1978 till 1991, and also of FIA from 1985 till 1993. This position gave him great power in the world of motor races, and Formula 1 in particular. Balestre was a controversial figure who ran both organisations like a dictator. He often seemed to show favouritism towards the big constructor teams. This led to a conflict with Bernie Ecclestone's FOCA (Formula One Constructors Organisation) in the early 80s. In the so called FISA-FOCA wars both organisations rivalled for control over the sporting and technical regulations and the commercial rights. The dispute reached a climax before the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix, boycotted by the FOCA affiliated teams. Eventually both parties settled in the first Concorde Agreement where the commercial rights of F1 were granted to FOCA and FISA kept control over the sporting and technical regulations. Balestre was also a close personal friend of Prost, who was very astute at playing the political game, an aspect of the sport Senna didn't concern himself with. Balestre would play a pivotal role in the outcome of the 1989 season.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: Rise to the Top

Answer: Martin Brundle

Senna had joined West Surrey Racing, the strongest team in the field. A great car combined with Senna's obsession with perfection made them almost invincible. Senna won the first nine races of the season. Then things went a bit downhill. A couple of collisions and a number of technical failures allowed Martin Brundle (Eddie Jordan Racing) to reduce his points deficit. The championship was decided in the last race, held at Thruxton. Senna returned to his winning ways by claiming pole, race and championship. He later also won the unofficial F3 world championship race at Macau. It was clear Senna was ready to graduate into Formula one. Despite tests with Williams, McLaren and Brabham the bigger teams were reluctant to sign a rookie driver. Senna eventually ended up with Toleman, a backmarker team. It wouldn't stop him from making his name.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: Nigel Mansell

This was one of the closest finishes in Formula One history. Unfortunately, Ayrton's World Championship lead did not last for long as he was forced to retire several times that year due to mechanical failures. Prost, Piquet, and Mansell had a close season with Alain Prost eventually taking the title.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna Tragedy

Answer: McLaren

He had won three titles with them, in 1988, 1990 and 1991.

From Quiz Ayrton Forever

Answer: Used the spare car

He was blackflagged during the race and stopped on lap 31.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: Suzuka

Senna was disqualified in 1989 at Suzuka, for missing the chicane after colliding with Prost, and drove into him a year later at Turn 1 to win the 1990 World Championship.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna

Answer: West Surrey Racing

Senna dominated Formula Three like he had the previous two years in Formula Ford, although he met some stern resistance from young British star Martin Brundle. Combined with the Ralt-Toyota, Senna marched to the title, taking 14 pole positions and 11 wins, including an incredible 9 in a row from the 1st race of the season. Senna's performances that season immediately caught the eye of many prospective Formula One teams, including the likes of Williams and McLaren.

From Quiz Ayrton Senna: The Making of a Legend

Answer: 0

In the Brazilian Grand Prix Senna spun while chasing Michael Schumacher (Benetton). In the Pacific Grand Prix he tangled with Mika Hakkinen (McLaren) at the start. Nicola Larini (Ferrari) also went off the track and crashed into Senna's Williams. Two retirements in two races meant zero points. Michael Schumacher had won both races. Senna was already under considerable pressure after two races. The Williams car was not as competitive as it had been in the previous two years. For the 1994 season electronic gizmos such as traction control and active suspension had been banned. Williams had lost much of its advantage because of that. Senna felt the car was unstable, suffering from understeer first and from oversteer the next moment.

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