Today, May 1st, 2026, is not just a commemorative date, but a moment that is renewed every year with the same emotional intensity in Imola and around the world. Once again, the Ayrton Day event is being held at the Santerno circuit, an occasion that brings together past and present, turning remembrance into something tangible.
More than thirty years after that 1994 weekend that left an indelible mark on motorsport history, the Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit becomes a place of reflection for anyone wishing to honour the great Brazilian champion.
As every year, the day’s programme is full of events, starting with the opportunity to access the track free of charge from 9:00 to 18:00 and walk the circuit on foot. This is more than a simple track walk: those who take part will pass through iconic locations in Formula 1 history, with the Variante Tamburello remaining one of the most emotional points of the entire circuit.
The activities, however, do not end there. At 10:30, at the Checco Costa Museum, the book “Senna: la magia della perfezione” by Alberto Sabbatini will be presented. This is not a sporting biography, but rather an opportunity to explore the more human side of the Brazilian driver.
Moving towards the afternoon and lunchtime, at 12:30 the new headquarters of the Ayrton Senna Italia Fan Club will be inaugurated inside the Senna Room at the circuit. The most emotional moment of the entire day is scheduled for 14:17, a time that carries a very specific meaning.
The ceremony “Remembering Roland and Ayrton” will begin with a gathering on the starting grid, followed by a procession towards the Variante Tamburello and the Villeneuve Corner.
These two sections of the circuit represent, in an indelible way, the tragedy of that 1994 weekend that took the lives of Roland Ratzenberger first and Ayrton Senna later, forever changing Formula 1 and its fans.
For those who wish, from 15:00 to 18:00 it will also be possible to visit the Senna Room, which hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to the Brazilian driver and preserves memorabilia and photographs tracing his career, showing who Ayrton was both on and off the track.
Outside, throughout the entire day, the 1994 Williams used in that season’s testing will also be on display.
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