Aryton Senna's race suit sold for Rs 45.3 lakh

Formula 1 in the 80s and 90s saw some outstanding drivers. None though were as revered and as greatly held in regard as the late Aryton Senna. On May 1^st 2014, the world marked 20 years of the legendary driver’s death due to a racing incident at the Imola Grand Prix in Italy. RM Auctions, paying respects to possibly the greatest ever Formula 1 driver, sold an important piece of Senna memorabilia at their recently held auction in the principality of Monte Carlo.

This race suit was worn by Senna through the 1991 Formula One season, when he won his third Drivers’ World Championship and McLaren-Honda won the Constructors’ Championship. It is accompanied by documentation that has been supplied by Ron Dennis, who was the team principal of McLaren when Senna was driving for them and who once had the suit in his personal collection nonetheless. The suit, preserved in wonderful condition, went for an astonishing Rs 45.3 lakh at the fall of the hammer.

Senna, who was known for his pure talent and sensational skill, especially on a wet track, began his ascent to stardom at the 1984 Monaco Grand Prix, where driving for the struggling Toleman team, he qualified 13th and finished 2nd in a brutal downpour, mere seconds from catching race leader Alain Prost before the race was stopped due to the weather. The next season, he left Toleman for Lotus, before driving for McLaren from 1988 to 1993, during which he captured three Drivers’ Championship titles.