Ayrton Senna

Brazilian Formula One race car driver and three-time world champion. He was the third Brazilian to become champion twice after Emerson Fittipaldi in 1942 and 1974, and Nelson Piquet 1981 and 1983. With a very aggressive style, he won championship, fame, wealth and adulation but was also subject to accidents. His rivalry with Alan Prost was historic.

Very private and reserved, Senna was married once in 1981 for eight months, no kids. Model Marcella Praddo claimed they had a brief affair and that her daughter Victoria is his child. (In 2000, DNA tests of hair and saliva samples given by Senna's parents conclusively proved that he was not the father of Praddo's child.) He also had a brief affair with Xuxa and Australian model Elle Macpherson.

On 1 May 1994 he drove the Imola Circuit in Italy, one of the fastest Formula One tracks. He lost control at over 280 km. and crashed into a wall at 2:17 PM MEDT, sustaining massive head injuries. He was taken to the hospital where he was declared dead at 7:05 PM, the 24th Formula One driver to die in a sanctioned Grand Prix event.

After his death, his sister Viviane Senna set up the Instituto Ayrton Senna in his honour. Bruno, his nephew (Viviane's son), born 15 October 1983 in Sao Paolo, is also a Formula One driver.