Ayrton Senna would have been 63 today, but during his too-short life, he became a hero to legions of fans, especially in his native Brazil. His was a life devoted to racing that started in karts at the age of four. Over the course of his career, he won three World Championships and 65 pole positions.
His Formula 1 debut came in 1984, and until his untimely death 10 years later, he racked up wins and, to be honest, controversy. Senna felt that winning was more important than anything, and he wrangled with other drivers, like Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher, as well as the F1 brass. But his blistering pace, in an era when the cars were particularly dangerous and difficult to drive, set him apart.
Senna was also associated with the Honda/Acura NSX, a car he helped develop while at McLaren-Honda. He was known by the Honda engineers during that time as "Harry" because his first name was too hard to pronounce. Here's Senna taking an NSX around Suzuka, heel-toeing in loafers.
While the world lost a talented driver far too soon, his influence in the wake of his passing has endured. After his accident, F1 adopted more stringent safety standards that have proven very effective in preventing further deaths. And new generations of fans and drivers have discovered what was truly special about Senna.
So happy birthday, Ayrton. We miss you.
