Ayrton Senna's Great Wet Weather Drives
Brazilian Formula 1 Driver Excelled in the Rain
Nov 21, 2008
Ayrton Senna became known as one of the best ever wet weather racing drivers, but the Brazilian had not always been so confident in tricky conditions. After struggling in wet kart races early in his career Senna began practising regularly at his local kart track whenever it rain. The practice paid off when he arrived in Formula 1. From the start of his Grand Prix career Senna was recognised as a master of driving in the rain.
1984 Monaco Grand Prix
After testing for Williams, McLaren and Brabham, British Formula 3 champion Senna made his Formula 1 debut with the small British Toleman team. At Monaco, on an extremely wet track, he embarrassed Alain Prost and McLaren by very nearly winning the race. The Grand Prix was red-flagged because of the conditions just as Senna was about to pounce on Prost’s leading car. The Hart-powered Toleman and Michelin rain tyres worked superbly around the tight street circuit, despite Senna damaging his front suspension after a trip across the kerbs at the chicane. Nevertheless, his second place finish heralded the arrival of a very special talent in Formula 1.
1985 Portuguese Grand Prix
Senna’s performances in the Toleman earned him a move to Lotus for 1985, partnering the Italian driver Elio De Angelis, who was in his sixth season with the team. Senna quickly set about asserting his dominance and, although De Angelis was in title contention early in the year, the team soon switched their attentions to the new Brazilian youngster.
Estoril was the venue for the 1985 Portuguese Grand Prix and the weather on race day was appalling. Undaunted, Senna proceeded to give his peers a driving master class, starting from pole and scoring his maiden Formula 1 victory in the black and gold machine. Michele Alboreto, second for Ferrari, was over a minute behind. It was a victory which Senna later rated as one of his very best. In the 2002 book, "Formula 1, The Autobiography", edited by Gerald Donaldson and published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson, he is quoted speaking about the race;
"People later said that my win at the wet in Donington in '93 was my greatest performance - no way! I had traction control! It was a good win, sure, but, compared with Estoril '85, it was nothing, really."
1993 European Grand Prix
Donington held its one and only Formula 1 World Championship event in 1993, and it became one of the most memorable races of recent times. Senna, driving an underpowered McLaren-Ford, made a mockery of his rivals. After slipping to fifth at the start he pulled off an audacious overtake on Karl Wendlinger at the daunting Craner Curves, before passing both Williams drivers to lead by the end of lap one. His performance was so dominant that Senna lapped everyone up to second placed Damon Hill. Throughout the rest of 1993 Senna continued to be a thorn in the side of the Williams. He finally secured a drive with Williams for 1994, only to have a fatal accident during the San Marino Grand Prix.
Great Wet Weather Racing Drivers
