The tragic death of Roland Ratzenberger

The saddest weekend in the history of Formula 1 ended in a tragic and fatal way Ayrton Senna It is Roland Ratzenberger, two pilots with different trajectories. This year, 2024, marks the thirtieth anniversary of the tragic deaths of Senna It is Ratzenberger, two drivers whose lives were cut short on a fateful weekend during the San Marino Grand Prix held in Imola, Italy in 1994.

While Senna he was a hero of a nation and idolized by the automobile world, Ratzenberger he was still little known even in his country, Austria.

Driver of the modest Simtek, this was only his third race in the category. Born in Salzburg on June 4, 1960, he had his first contact with competition at the age of 5, when his grandmother took him to see a hill climb race. At 9, he saw his passion for motorsport emerge when the Salzburg Race Track was built near his home.

In 1970, Jochen Rindt He was world champion in the category, which further increased his visibility on the tracks. However, his parents had a different plan for their only son: they wanted him to go to a technical school. Breaking up with the family, Roland He moved to Monza, where he attended a flying school.

His debut in cars took place in 1983, in the German Formula Ford — where, two years later, he became winner of the Austrian and Central European championships. In 1986, he moved to England, starting to race in F3. A curious fact is that, during this phase, he started to be called Roland Rat, a famous TV puppet.

Great results

His name recognition was so great that his car began to bear the nickname. Without significant results, he migrated to the tourism and prototype categories, when he met the Brazilian Maurizio Sandro Salas, with whom he formed a team in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To the F1 Memória blog, Rooms remember that Ratzenberger I dreamed so much about Formula 1 that I saved every penny.

Often, in fact, Roland He even slept on the floor of the flat that the Brazilian rented in Tokyo so as not to spend money on daily expenses. After stints in F3 and F300, Ratzenberger he would realize his dream in 1994, after, ironically, doing good tests in Ímola, when he was invited by newcomer Simtek to be a teammate. David Brabham.

In a team without many resources, the driver signed a contract for just five races. At Interlagos, he had a problem in qualifying on Saturday and ended up being left out. In Aida, he surprised by finishing in 11th place, something above expectations for such a limited car.

Fatal tragedy

During the second qualifying in San Marino on Saturday, Roland left the track at the Acque Minerali chicane. Although small, the incident ended up damaging his front wing — something discovered later and crucial for him to lose control of the car, crashing into the wall.

As a result of the impact, he suffered three injuries: a fracture at the base of the skull, identified as the cause of death, blunt trauma from the left front tire, which invaded the cockpit, and a ruptured aorta.

To honor the pilot, Ayrton Senna carried inside his Williams an Austrian flag. When they passed away, they were the same age. The Brazilian was just three and a half months older than his professional partner.

Thirty years after these painful losses, the legacy of Senna It is Ratzenberger continues to echo. Their memories are honored not only through tributes on the racetrack, but also through documentaries, exhibitions and special events that celebrate their lives and achievements.