Simtek S941

Information

Crashed at 1994 San Marino Grand Prix and killed Le Mans champion Roland Ratzenberger in his third Grand Prix. During qualifying, Ratzenberger ran off and damaged his front wing. Unaware of this, his started another lap rather than return to pit. Before Villeneuve curve on next lap, while Ratzenberger was at full speed, his front wing fell off and stuck under his front wheel. The car was not able to turn, hit the concrete wall head-on at over 300 km/h. The impact injured Ratzenberger fatally.
But the tragedy wasn't over. After the crash, Ayrton Senna broke down and cried. Doctor Sid Watkins, as well as Senna's friend, advice the inconsolable Senna to withdraw from the race. Senna said, 'I cannot quit, I have to go on', and took the race. However, he was killed too in the race. After the crash, an Austrian flag was found in Senna's wreckage: he planned to show the flag after the race in memory of Ratzenberger, but he would never had the chance.
After Ratzenberger's accident, Grand Prix Drivers' Association was re-established to push safety improvements. The HANS device was also pushed into reality to prevent this kind of accident.