Ayrton Senna's career

Thursday 1 May 2014 10:35, UK

Image: Ayrton Senna started his career in Karting and competed in the World Championship, finishing as runner up in 1979 and 1980.
Image: He got his first taste of single-seater racing in the British Formula Ford 1600 Championship in 1981
Image: And took his first ever single-seater win at Brands Hatch
Image: He combined the British and European Formula Ford 2000 Championships in 1982
Image: Winning the British title...
Image: .... and the European title
Image: Senna then got his first taste of F3 in a non-championship race at Thruxton at the end of that season
Image: Senna moved to F3 in 1983
Image: And whilst he took wins...
Image: ...things didn't always go to plan
Image: That Autumn Senna tested for the Toleman F1 team
Image: And made his F1 debut in his native Brazil for the team in 1984
Image: Senna moved to Lotus in 1985
Image: And took his first F1 win in Portugal
Image: He stayed with the team in 1986
Image: And his win in Spain was the closest finish in F1 history at just 0.041s
Image: Sticking with Lotus for 1987, Senna took his first Monaco win
Image: The Brazilian moved to McLaren in 1988
Image: And developed an intense rivalry with team-mate Alain Prost
Image: Senna just pipped Prost to the drivers' title in that first year
Image: Year two, however, and the Prost v Senna started to really heat up...
Image: ...and it came to a head when the pair crashed in Japan
Image: While Senna got going after the clash, he was later disqualified for short-cutting the chicane and the title went to Prost
Image: With Prost now at Ferrari, Senna started 1990 strongly
Image: Once again it came to boiling point in Japan
Image: When the pair battled into turn 1 on the first lap...
Image: ...they made contact...
Image: ...and the accident put both cars out of the race
Image: However Senna still took the title
Image: Senna's main rival in 1991 was Williams' Nigel Mansell
Image: Here after running out of fuel on the final lap at Silverstone, Mansell gives Senna a lift back.
Image: Once again Senna won in Monaco
Image: And secured another drivers' crown that season
Image: Reliability let McLaren down in 1992
Image: But Senna still managed to hold off Mansell around the streets of Monte-Carlo in one of F1's most famous duels
Image: It represented a fourth Monaco win in a row and a record-equalling fifth for F1's brilliant Brazilian
Image: With no F1 contract for the following season, Senna tested with IndyCar team Penske in late 1992
Image: The McLaren was underpowered in 1993, but Senna still managed five wins - including, predictably, Monaco
Image: But it was his win at the European Grand Prix at a rain-hit Donington - and <i>that</i> first lap - which lived longest in the memory
Image: Senna was a master come rain or shine
Image: Senna moved to Williams in 1994
Image: The Brazilian was leading in San Marino before the tragic accident which saw F1 lose its brightest stars
Image: 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of Senna's death

Ayrton Senna's career

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