Ayrton Senna da Silva ONM • ComRB • OME (São Paulo, March 21, 1960 - Bologna, May 1, 1994) was a Brazilian Formula 1 driver, champion of the category three times, in 1988, 1990 and 1991. He started his career competing in karting in 1973 and in "formula cars" in 1981, when he won the Ford Formulas 1600 and 2000. In 1983 he achieved the title of champion of the British Formula 3 Championship, breaking several records. His performance boosted his rise to Formula 1, making his first appearance in the category at the 1984 Brazilian Grand Prix by the Toleman-Hart team.
In his first season, Senna scored in five races, closing the year with thirteen points and ninth in the overall ranking of the drivers. The following year, he joined Lotus-Renault, for which he won six major awards over three seasons.