Senna's F1 debut season

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Sir,

The Turbo Years were indeed one of the most thrilling periods in motor racing, as your articles made very clear in the January 2001 issue.

The picture of Ayrton Senna in the ‘old’ 1G183B Toleman brought back memories of the very first time I ever saw a Formula One car in the pitlane at the Zolder racetrack, which is where your picture of it was taken, so not Kyalami and Ayrton’s second GP, but Belgium and his third. A few weeks before the Belgian round a number of teams had come to Zolder for tyre testing, and I clearly remember seeing Ayrton being towed in having spun off (near the medical building, I believe).

The new TG184 (at the back of the garage — imagine this kind of access into a Formula One pit these days!) was present two rounds before it was first raced, something I found most fascinating.

I only wish I had known at that time who Brian Hart was, as he indeed deserves far more respect than he is generally given.

I AM, YOURS ETC,

Fik Geuens, Belgium