Racing a 200 mph missile loaded with fuel is never going to be an intrinsically safe activity. For many, this inherent danger is part of the sport�s appeal. The sport has suffered its inevitable tragedies over the years and this only emphasises the courage of those who continue to fight it out on the tracks of the world, accepting the stakes.
Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers of all time, was killed on a black day for motor racing in 1994, just one day after F1 rookie Roland Ratzenberger perished at the same Imola track. It illustrated starkly that the grim hand of chance can reach out to claim any, regardless of reputation. Some have been narrowly spared, yet still the sport has drawn them straight back.
The most dramatic example of this was Niki Lauda who, after crashing in the 1976 German Grand Prix, was given the Last Rites in hospital, not expected to make a recovery from critical lung damage. Yet, just six weeks later, he was behind the wheel of his Ferrari, facially scarred, but indomitable. He finished fourth and later went on to win a further two world championship crowns. The sport�s governing body, the FIA, has imposed fantastically rigorous safety legislation on Formula One. These regulations cover both the construction and crash testing of the cars before they are allowed onto the track.
Ayrton Senna, one of the greatest drivers of all time, was killed on a black day for motor racing in 1994, just one day after F1 rookie Roland Ratzenberger perished at the same Imola track. It illustrated starkly that the grim hand of chance can reach out to claim any, regardless of reputation. Some have been narrowly spared, yet still the sport has drawn them straight back.
The most dramatic example of this was Niki Lauda who, after crashing in the 1976 German Grand Prix, was given the Last Rites in hospital, not expected to make a recovery from critical lung damage. Yet, just six weeks later, he was behind the wheel of his Ferrari, facially scarred, but indomitable. He finished fourth and later went on to win a further two world championship crowns. The sport�s governing body, the FIA, has imposed fantastically rigorous safety legislation on Formula One. These regulations cover both the construction and crash testing of the cars before they are allowed onto the track.
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