The biggest and best-ever collection of Ayrton Senna cars will be one of the standout highlights at this month’s Silverstone Festival (23-25 August).
Staged at the circuit where the legendary Brazilian won more races than anywhere else, the very special display will feature more than 25 exhibits spanning Senna’s entire career, from teenage karting to his three FIA Formula One World Championship titles.
Adding to the excitement, Ayrton’s niece Lalalli Senna will be exhibiting her art at the Festival, while his nephew Bruno Senna will be attending not only to meet and greet visitors but also to drive one of his uncle’s F1 racers on the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on Saturday.
“Ayrton Senna was one of the greatest and most inspirational F1 drivers of all eras, and to pay tribute to his legacy, we were determined to honour his remarkable achievements at Silverstone, where he enjoyed so much success in Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 1,” said Nick Wigley, Event Director.
“This will be the most comprehensive collection of Senna cars ever assembled, and it’s very unlikely that such an incredible gathering will ever be seen again. It’s not to be missed.”
The exceptional, one-off tribute has been organised with the full support of both the Senna family and Senna Brands.
“Ayrton always had a very strong connection with Silverstone. His history in motorsport includes memorable victories at this circuit, and he raced for British teams. We are excited to participate in the Festival this year, which is so special as we celebrate 30 years of Senna’s legacy,” said Bianca Senna, CEO of Senna Brands and the triple world champion’s niece.
She added, “We congratulate and thank all those making this brilliant celebration possible – it is definitely a wonderful tribute that will move fans worldwide.”
“Silverstone Festival is putting together an amazing tribute to honour Ayrton’s legacy,” added Bruno Senna who is delighted to be commemorating his uncle’s outstanding achievements.
“Even 30 years later, Ayrton is still extremely influential and dear to millions of people around the world, so it’s hugely exciting to be part of this occasion and among so many of his iconic cars.”
Like so many other champions, Senna cut his teeth racing karts from a very young age. He came to prominence when he won the South American Karting Championship in 1977 before travelling overseas to further his fledgling career.
The amazing Silverstone Festival showcase—sited on pole position in the International Paddock—tracks his early progress with a kart from his formative days competing at home in Brazil and two DAP chassis from his subsequent seasons in Europe.
In 1981, Senna moved to England and graduated to single-seaters, winning both the RAC and Townsend Thoresen Formula Ford 1600 titles with the cutting-edge Van Diemen team. He made his Silverstone debut that year, taking pole position and only missing out on a maiden victory when his closest rival controversially jumped the chicane on the final lap.
The following season, he maintained the momentum by winning both the British and European Formula Ford 2000 championships, twice at Silverstone in the process.
Further fuelling his meteoric rise through the ranks, he then secured the coveted British Formula Three Championship crown in 1983 with no fewer than six wins at Silverstone.
Continuing the Senna story, the Festival display will include all three title winners: a Van Diemen RF81 FF1600, a Van Diemen RF82 FF2000 and an equally evocative Ralt RT3.
No fewer than 12 stunning F1 cars – representing all four teams for which he competed – will honour Senna’s record-breaking decade on the Grand Prix grid.
These will include the Williams FW08 he tested in 1983, the Toleman TG183B in which he not only made his Grand Prix debut in 1984 but also scored his very first World Championship point, the black and gold JPS Lotus 97T (below) in which he took his first F1 win in the pouring rain at Estoril, Portugal, in 1985, and a magnificent seven Marlboro-liveried McLaren MP4s, including MP4/4, MP4/5, MP4/6, and MP4/7 derivations.
Among these are the 1991 Honda V12-powered Monaco GP winner and the title-winning V10-engined MP4/5B from 1990 – a car that probably had the shortest—and most significant—career of any Formula 1 car, a total of no more than 400 yards!
To give him an edge over old adversary Alain Prost in the title race, McLaren built a new, end-of-season chassis specially for Senna.
It debuted in Japan, where Ayrton took pole and then infamously tangled with the Frenchman’s Ferrari at the first corner, putting both cars out and clinching the championship. The newly introduced chassis never raced again and is now a resident at the McLaren Technology Centre.
Highlighting other aspects of Senna’s life, the spectacular Silverstone Festival line-up will also feature two of the rally cars – an MG Metro 6R4 and Ford Sierra RS Cosworth – that the Brazilian drove in Wales for a magazine feature, plus a pair of Honda NSXs. Senna helped the Japanese manufacturer with the development of its first mid-engined supercar, and he drove both models shown at Silverstone.
Paying a two-wheeled tribute to the triple World Champion, three Ducati 916 Senna motorbikes will be rubbing fairings with all the racing machinery. Ayrton, an avid Ducati enthusiast, endorsed the programme shortly before his death in May 1994. Three Senna editions were released with net proceeds donated to the Ayrton Senna Institute – examples of all three iterations will be at Silverstone.
Further honouring the Brazilian, a collection of his rarely seen trophies, race suits, and helmets will be displayed throughout the Festival in the award-winning Silverstone Museum, entry to which is included in the price of event admission.
The Museum will also be home to a pair of meticulously crafted sculptures by the artist Lalalli Senna, Ayrton’s niece. These are accessible pieces imitating her dramatic 3.5-metre-high bust of Senna standing at the Interlagos circuit in Brazil.
Visitors will also be able to pay homage to Senna’s 30-year legacy at Escapade Silverstone, where diners will be treated to some Senna-inspired art on the ESC. Clubhouse walls. There will also be the opportunity to purchase official Senna merchandise.
A wide range of tickets—including camping and hospitality options—are available, with the best prices for those booking in advance. Full details of all tickets can be found here.