Senna Trial to be reopened
Discussion
Hi all just saw this on the news
The investigation into Ayrton Senna's death is to be reopened, the Italian Supreme Court has ruled.
Nearly nine years after the triple world champion’s death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, judges have decreed that the case must return to court due to legal errors in the original appeal.
Williams technical director Patrick Head and the team’s then chief designer Adrian Newey were cleared of manslaughter in 1997 and again on appeal two years later but the duo now face being dragged through another trial.
In 1999 the prosecutors were seeking one-year suspended jail sentences for Head and Newey, arguing that as the team's two technical chiefs, they should be held responsible for the faulty steering column that caused Senna's accident at the Tamburello corner.
Williams lawyer Robert Causo seemed relatively unconcerned by the latest devlopment.
He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "This has an importance in terms of the formalities but in substance it changes nothing for us. We are calm - we won in the two other (trials) and I do not see why we should fear losing in the third."
However, the news places another question mark over the future of Formula 1 in Italy and the San Marino Grand Prix in particular. F1 bosses are unhappy racing in the country due to its arcane legal system which cites that, even in the event of an accidental death, someone must be held accountable.
And with Bernie Ecclestone desperate to make space on the F1 calendar for grands prix in China, Bahrain and maybe even Turkey and Russia, the Italian Supreme Court’s decision could seal the fate of the Imola race.
The investigation into Ayrton Senna's death is to be reopened, the Italian Supreme Court has ruled.
Nearly nine years after the triple world champion’s death in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, judges have decreed that the case must return to court due to legal errors in the original appeal.
Williams technical director Patrick Head and the team’s then chief designer Adrian Newey were cleared of manslaughter in 1997 and again on appeal two years later but the duo now face being dragged through another trial.
In 1999 the prosecutors were seeking one-year suspended jail sentences for Head and Newey, arguing that as the team's two technical chiefs, they should be held responsible for the faulty steering column that caused Senna's accident at the Tamburello corner.
Williams lawyer Robert Causo seemed relatively unconcerned by the latest devlopment.
He told the Gazzetta dello Sport: "This has an importance in terms of the formalities but in substance it changes nothing for us. We are calm - we won in the two other (trials) and I do not see why we should fear losing in the third."
However, the news places another question mark over the future of Formula 1 in Italy and the San Marino Grand Prix in particular. F1 bosses are unhappy racing in the country due to its arcane legal system which cites that, even in the event of an accidental death, someone must be held accountable.
And with Bernie Ecclestone desperate to make space on the F1 calendar for grands prix in China, Bahrain and maybe even Turkey and Russia, the Italian Supreme Court’s decision could seal the fate of the Imola race.
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Havent forensic scientists already ascertained that he died because the safety car was out for too long leading to a pressure drop in the tyres and the car skidding along on the underpan leaving him no downforce to allow him to turn?
Whats the point of all this, seems completely money movitivated which is shocking.
Matt.
Whats the point of all this, seems completely money movitivated which is shocking.
Matt.
plotloss said: Havent forensic scientists already ascertained that he died because the safety car was out for too long leading to a pressure drop in the tyres and the car skidding along on the underpan leaving him no downforce to allow him to turn?
Yeah - I saw that tv prog (forget the name).
IIRC the conclusion wasn't just that there was less downforce, but as the skidplate hits, all the existing downforce disappears, thus breaking traction.
With this in mind, you could argue driver error, as he might have been expected to know this and also know that his tyres were cold, or you could go for the design flaw argument.
Either way, what's the foppin' point? Its not going to bring him back or lead to any rule changes, as the rules have moved on since...
IIRC, he was runing lower than other people, or something similar. There was a TV show on it a while back, where it was pointed out that sparks can be seen flying out the back of the car just as he's going into the corner, suggesting he grounded. Also, it wasn't the impact that killed him; the front right tyre was trapped between the car and the wall for a bit, when this flew out it hit Senna in th ehead, causing the fatal injury.
Anyway, the only reason I see this case continuing is that someone is getting VERY rich from it.
Anyway, the only reason I see this case continuing is that someone is getting VERY rich from it.
The Italian legal system has to find a party to attribute blame too..
this is why in most italian corporate there is a "risk" director - usually someones fcukwit nephew or son in law who is paid heaps to live like a playboy... and then take the rap if a corporate manslaughter charge comes up
great system
this is why in most italian corporate there is a "risk" director - usually someones fcukwit nephew or son in law who is paid heaps to live like a playboy... and then take the rap if a corporate manslaughter charge comes up
great system
Ah yes, I remember now.
He was in a part of the track that he usually wouldnt have been due to someone spinning off in practice? Perhaps Roland Ratsenburger?
Highly undulating surface, basically took off over one of the humps, no strength in the sidewall due to no pressure, skidpan hit, tyres came up et voila 180mph tobbogan.
Matt.
He was in a part of the track that he usually wouldnt have been due to someone spinning off in practice? Perhaps Roland Ratsenburger?
Highly undulating surface, basically took off over one of the humps, no strength in the sidewall due to no pressure, skidpan hit, tyres came up et voila 180mph tobbogan.
Matt.
Ratzenburger's fatal accoident was in Saturday qualifying at a different part of the track so had no bearing on Senna's accident at all.
Senna was bottoming badly as he had set the car up with a very low ride height. Every time the car bottomed, the tyres were slightly unloaded thereby reducing grip and steering effectiveness.I just think the car bottomed and understeered off the track into the wall - end of story. The fatal injury was caused by a piece of the carbon fibre suspension piercing Senna's helmet and skull.
I think Senna was a bit rattled at the beginning of the 1994 season. He's finally made the move from McLaren to Williams on the assumption he would be getting the best car on the grid and voila, he suddenly found himself struggling to match Schumacher's pace. He spun trying to keep up with Scumacher in Brazil and got punted off at the start of the Pacific GP at Aida. I think he was taking desperate measures to make the car go faster and paid the price.
There's no rearthly reason to re-open the court case.
Senna was bottoming badly as he had set the car up with a very low ride height. Every time the car bottomed, the tyres were slightly unloaded thereby reducing grip and steering effectiveness.I just think the car bottomed and understeered off the track into the wall - end of story. The fatal injury was caused by a piece of the carbon fibre suspension piercing Senna's helmet and skull.
I think Senna was a bit rattled at the beginning of the 1994 season. He's finally made the move from McLaren to Williams on the assumption he would be getting the best car on the grid and voila, he suddenly found himself struggling to match Schumacher's pace. He spun trying to keep up with Scumacher in Brazil and got punted off at the start of the Pacific GP at Aida. I think he was taking desperate measures to make the car go faster and paid the price.
There's no rearthly reason to re-open the court case.
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