Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna da Silva was born in São Paulo in 1960 and began racing karts as a boy, winning South American titles before moving to England to climb the single-seater ladder. He entered Formula One with Toleman in 1984, and a stunning wet-weather drive to second at Monaco that season announced an extraordinary new talent.

Driving for Lotus and then McLaren, he became the sport's defining force, winning world championships in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and taking a then-record six victories at Monaco. His rivalry with Alain Prost gripped the sport, and his qualifying laps, sixty-five pole positions in all, were regarded as displays of almost mystical concentration and commitment.

Deeply devout and quietly generous, he gave substantial sums to children's causes in Brazil, work continued today by the Ayrton Senna Institute. He died on 1 May 1994 in a crash at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, a loss that prompted sweeping safety reforms in motorsport. His legacy endures in every barrier raised and every Brazilian flag waved at a race track.

Brazilian Formula One driver and three-time world champion whose speed, intensity and mastery in the rain made him a legend before his death at Imola in 1994.