“It was a race like old times – going hard, from the heart. I had to be smart over when to press the rhythm, and when to hold back. It was a fantastic race. I am happy for all of us. Not just for me, but for the team and staff. It was a dream. God knows, and when he wants something, then nothing can stop it.”
The quote above was given to Brazilian television, delivered in Senna’s native tongue which gives an extra dimension to his personal makeup – he was not only driven by an utter self-belief, but a spiritual element for good measure.
Ranged against the technically superior Williams-Renault FW15C V10s of Prost and Hill, Senna produced a devastating first lap and scored victory by an incredible 1m23s in his V8-powered McLaren-Ford MP4-8.
Ayrton Senna, McLaren
Photo by: Sutton Images
Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/8
Photo by: Sutton Images
Before the race, Senna had warned of “some controversy on overtaking” given Donington’s relatively short lap, lack of straights and narrow confines, but raceday’s torrential rain – which had just about abated before the start time – not only opened his opportunities, but took away some of the Williams’ advantage.
Having qualified fourth in the dry, 1.649s off Alain Prost’s pole-sitting Williams, Senna sensed this was a race that should be taken by the scruff of the neck – but he’d require his wet-weather skills, superb feel for ever-changing grip levels and all his guile to do so.
Start action
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Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/8 Ford, Alain Prost, Williams FW15C Renault
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Alain Prost, Williams FW15C Renault leads Damon Hill, Williams FW15C Renault, Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/8 Ford
Photo by: Motorsport Images
Alain Prost leads teammate Damon Hill, Williams FW15C, Karl Wendlinger, Sauber C12, Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/8, Michael Schumacher, Benetton B193B, Michael Andretti, McLaren MP4/8
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Ayrton Senna, McLaren MP4/8, leads Damon Hill, Williams FW15C
Photo by: Sutton Images
Elbowed aside by Michael Schumacher’s fast-starting Benetton, Senna briefly fell to fifth into Redgate, the first corner, but then began his charge. He passed Schumacher on the exit of Redgate, swept around the outside of Karl Wendlinger’s Sauber down the fearsomely rapid Craner Curves, then dived underneath Hill at McLean’s – skirting the white line as ducked out from behind the ball of spray…
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