Moaning Old Git | moan, moan, moan

Blog, News, Information, Rants, Comments, Moans, Life, Loves etc.

Roland Ratzenberger

Saturday, 1 May 2004 ‡ 13:59

It has been ten years today since the death of Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna. Roland Ratzenberger also died, the day previously. Roland Ratzenberger's death is overshadowed by Senna's death and many forget or do not mention Ratzenberger, purely because he was new to Formula One racing and the immense presence Ayrton had in Formula One. Imola would have been Roland's third race, but he tragically died qualifying his Simtek. The car's aerodynamic front wing plate failed, which launched his car upwards, due to loss of downforce at the front of the car, at 200mph, unable to steer or effectively slow down, he continued straight on towards a concrete wall at Villeneuve corner. The 180mph impact caused severe damage to his neck, which was obvious as the car came to rest, with Ratzenberger slumped in the cockpit.

After winning the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch, in 1986. Ratzenberger raced in European Formula 3 and also for BMW Touring Cars, but was not very successful. He moved to Japan and joined the Stellar Team and won a Japanese Formula 3000 event at Suzuka in 1992. In 1994 Ratzenberger joined Simtek, but failed to qualify for the Brazilian GP at Interlagos. The next race at TI Aida in Japan, Ratzenberger qualified and finished the only race of his Formula One career.

A charity football match in Italy, before the San Marino GP was held against the current F1 drivers and the 1994 Brazilian Football World Cup winning team. The match ended with a 5-5 draw.

formula1.com: roland ratzenberger