Ayrton Senna: The Story of a Brazilian Sporting Hero

To commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the tragic death of Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, The History Buff has made an episode about his life. Whilst I was in Senna's native São Paulo a couple of months back, I sat down to discuss Senna's life with local tour guide Bruno. Senna's life may have been cut tragically short, but his influence on the racing sport is still felt today. After his death it was revealed he had donated hundreds of millions of dollars of his personal fortune to charities in Brazil and his legacy includes the Senna Institute which provides education to poorer children in Brazil. Upon his death at just 34 years old, such was his hero status in Brazil, that the government declared three days of mourning, and he was buried with full state honours.

Join us as we delve into the story of this highly complex individual, whose softly spoken, sensitive, compassionate and highly emotional demeanour stood in stark contrast to his aggressive and ruthless driving techniques, all while navigating the depths of a deep Christian faith.

If you're ever in Säo Paolo, then do check out Bruno and the tours he offers. He's fantastic!

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Artwork by Leila Mead. Check out her website and follow her on Instagram.

Music: As History Unfolds by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen.

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