On this day 30 years ago, the F1 world lost one of its brightest stars when Ayrton Senna tragically succumbed to injuries sustained in an accident at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. For a special tribute, we spoke with one of his first team mates, karter extraordinaire Terry Fullerton, about their early days together and the lasting impact the pair had on each other.
Senna’s story started on the streets of Sao Paulo in the 1960s where, as a child, he battled friends in a go-kart built by his father, Milton. Bitten by the motorsport bug, ‘Beco’ – the nickname given to him by his parents – was destined to race competitively and, as soon as he turned the required age of 13, the moment beckoned.
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Interlagos was the venue for Senna’s official kart debut, at a venue in the shadows of the established F1 track, and the youngster would offer a sign of things to come by winning at the first time of asking. From there, the trophies rolled in, paving the way for local titles and then a successful assault on the 1977 South American Karting Championship.
At that point, Senna and his family had a decision to make. With Europe playing host to the biggest karting events on the calendar and being home to the various single-seater championships that served as stepping stones to the F1 grid, a move halfway around the world would be required to take the next step.
Senna and Fullerton meet for the first time
And so, in the winter of 1978, with that breakthrough South American title under his belt, Senna headed over to the continent. More specifically, Italy, where the fresh-faced talent would link up with the DAP operation and an established British driver who had been spearheading their efforts on the karting scene.
News Summary:
- Road trips, fierce battles and poignant memories – Ayrton Senna’s karting team mate, Terry Fullerton, on his time with the Brazilian racer
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