Ayrton
was a great talent, a great champion, a great person
EDDIE
JORDAN (JORDAN F1): "....In September 1982,
I gave Ayrton da Silva, as he was known before he changed
his name to Senna, his first F3 test at Silverstone -
and he was staggeringly quick ...Having failed to sign
him for the 1983 F3 season, I was lucky enough to sign
Martin Brundle and the titanic battle of Senna and Brundle
during that year is a matter of motorsport folklore. Jordan
and WSE joined together to form the Theodore team at Macau
that year, where our drivers were Senna, Brundle and Geurrero.
We finished 1st and 2nd with Senna winning his first ever
international race in Asia ... Ayrton remained a great
friend and supporter of the team until his untimely death
at Imola. That weekend started in a devastating manner
with the huge accident and hospitalisation of our driver
Rubens Barrichello on Friday, followed harrowingly by
the tragic and sudden death on Saturday of Roland Ratzenburger,
and then the cruel loss of Ayrton during the race ...
I can distinctly remember the FOCA flight home, which,
to the best of my recollection, is the only time I have
been on a flight in total silence. Ayrton was a great
talent, a great champion, a great person. The world is
a lesser place without him. |
