Ayrton Senna Forever: Grandiose Shows in Turin / Formula 1

On May 1, 1994, Formula 1 star Ayrton Senna lost his life in Imola. 30 years later, the “Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile” in Turin shows an exhibition about the unforgettable Brazilian.

It seems strange to the older among us: we close our eyes and think of Ayrton Senna, and it doesn’t seem at all thirty years since we lost the greatest Formula 1 racing driver of his era, perhaps the greatest of all – Ayrton. Senna.

The memory of Senna, who died in an accident at Imola in 1994, is strong and open to many people, and a new exhibition in Turin emphasizes this: until October 13, 2024, visitors to the National Automobile Museum will be able to. see “Ayrton Senna Forever”.

The curator of the exhibition is Carlo Cavicchi, former director of the Italian weekly Autosprint. In the opening, Cavicchi said: “We have had a great week, and the many memories that we were able to show the guests brought back good memories. Senna always expected the best from him, and we tried to design the show in that spirit.”

Cavicchi continued: “Ayrton Senna has always protected his private life. We also kept this in mind. We don’t show anything he wouldn’t want to share with the fans.”

So there are no rumours, no emotions, no rumors about his relationship or the history of his last trip. But there was a lot of heat, because Senna was also able to open on the racetrack once the journalists and photographers gained his trust. This warmth can be felt in many pictures by the best photographers, from Angelo Orsi and Keith Sutton, from Ercole Colombo and Bernard Asset, from Steven Tee and Rainer Schlegelmilch.

255 pieces will be displayed in Turin. The base includes thirteen race cars from the career of three-time Formula 1 champion Senna – including iconic race cars such as the John Player Special-Lotus 97T2 or the McLaren MP4/4-Honda, his 1984 Toleman or the Lotus of camel yellow. .

Never has a more complete collection of overalls and helmets from the 41-time GP winner been released. Most touching is the steering wheel from the 1994 Williams FW16-Renault that Senna used in his final season.

Lorenzo Cerofolini, CEO of the manufacturer Nardi-Personal, says: “Senna stood out in many respects, including during intensive work at the workplace. Rarely have there been more sensitive tests, so everything had to be OK. Senna liked the big steering wheel, and he just thought that with a bigger steering wheel he could drive more precisely. The anatomically shaped steering wheels of the other Williams drivers weren’t enough.”

Other unusual pieces can be seen in Turin: the closed gloves with the upper part of Senna’s hands rubbing against the wall of the Williams cockpit; or the V12 engine from Lamborghini that Senna tested in the McLaren racing car; or Ducati 916 Senna; along with many trophies, caps, watches, medals, jackets and of course the impressive series of his helmets in this unforgettable yellow color.

On the wall: Some statements from Ayrton Senna that have not lost their relevance to this day. Two of them are now leaving fans with a lump in their throat.

“I’m not immortal. Like everyone, I’m afraid of getting injured, especially in a Formula 1 car.”

“I’m not afraid of death. What I’m afraid of is that I didn’t try my best.”

You can find everything about the exhibition at the following two links:

National Automobile Museum