Introduction
"Correr, competir, eu levo isso no sangue, é parte de minha vida"
Ayrton Senna (1960-1994)
Motorsports are amongst the most popular sporting manifestations throughout the World. Practiced in practically all
countries and under a wide-spread variety of disciplines - from Formula 1 to swamp drag racing, from offshore boats to
motorcycle trial, from hillclimbs to endurance relays - motorsports are followed by billions of people every year, and
grew up to the point of becoming a very sizeable industry. But despite all thrills and excitement it generates, racing
also brings with it some other aspects - quite unpleasant ones - that also deserve to be studied and debated.
Racing is a dangerous sport. It is an inherently risky activity. Regardless of all efforts made by organizing bodies and
engineers to enhance safety, and of its continuous improvement throughout the last decades, motorsports will never be
totally safe.
By engaging in motorsport activties - as a competitor, a team member, a marshal, a member of the press, a spectator or
under other circumstances - one understands and recognizes that he/she is exposing himself/herself and those under
his/her guard to such risks.
Very regrettably, fatal accidents - the darkest aspect of motorsports - are one of these risks. The objective of this
website is to honour the memory of all those that paid motorsport’s saddest price - by remembering their histories,
reviewing their careers, celebrating their victories, cherishing their lives.
As this project develops, eulogies to victims of racing accidents will be added, hopefully with the addition of pictures
and other aids.
Another aspect that this site intends to cover is the evolution of safety devices, how other aspects of our life are
touched by their improvement, and how the perception of motorsport risks and safety has changed with time.
Should you wish to contribute with information to this website please be most welcome to contact us. Thank you indeed.
We hope that this work will respectfully remember those that perished pursuing their passion - or supporting those that
pursued it - and that it can contribute to find ways of making racing even safer than what it has become.
The Motorsport Memorial Team