CAPÍTULO 1
Vida: 14h17
Domingo 1 de maio de 1994
Quinta-feira 7am a domingo 2:17 pm
Quinta-feira, 28 de abril de 1994, estava destinado a ser um dia movimentado (ativo, ocupado) para Ayrton Senna. Ele acordou em sua casa na Quinta do Lago no Algarve Português como de costume e foi para uma corrida matinal em torno das dunas de areia e campos de golfe. Sua empregada portuguesa, Juraci, já estava fazendo tarefas e se preocupando com ele. Ele odiava deixar sua casa portuguesa. A casa de quatro quartos, com paredes brancas, ficava em seus próprios terrenos em um resort de sonho de cerca de 2.000 acres. Com campos de golfe e lagos de um lado e uma praia do outro, esse paraíso ainda era um segredo bem guardado no que dizia respeito a Senna. Só as pessoas que lá estavam compreendiam a atmosfera e o clima únicos. O resort tinha um hotel cinco estrelas, quatro campos de golfe oficiais (circuito de golfe para campeonato, que aconteciam campeonatos oficiais) e muitos dos melhores restaurantes e uma discoteca.
Thursday 28th April 1994 was destined to be a busy day for Ayrton Senna. He woke in his villa in Quinta do Lago in the Portuguese Algarve as usual and went for an early morning run around the sand dunes and golf greens. His Portuguese housekeeper, Juraci, was already up doing errands and fussing around him. He hated leaving his Portuguese home. The four-bedroomed, white-walled villa sat in its own grounds set in a dream resort of around 2,000 acres. With golf courses and lakes on one side and a beach on the other, this paradise was still a well-kept secret as far as Senna was concerned. Only people who had been there understood the unique atmosphere and climate. The resort had a five-star hotel, four championship golf courses and many top restaurants and a nightclub.
Mas acima de tudo a Quinta do Lago deu-lhe o anonimato que ansiava.
But most of all Quinta do Lago gave him the anonymity he craved.
As pessoas também falavam sua língua, o português. Era o único lugar no mundo fora do Brasil que ele se sentia em casa. André Jordan, o criador da Quinta do Lago, contratou o arquiteto brasileiro Júlio Neves para projetar grande parte da infra-estrutura. E no inverno europeu, quando esteve no Brasil, a casa foi reformada e redecorada. Em 1994, pela primeira vez, ele planejava passar toda a temporada européia em Portugal e não voltar ao Brasil.
The people also spoke his language, Portuguese. It was the only place in the world outside Brazil that he felt at home. André Jordan, the developer of Quinta do Lago, had employed Brazilian architect Júlio Neves to design much of the infrastructure. And over the European winter, when he had been in Brazil, the house was remodelled and redecorated. In 1994, for the first time, he planned to spend the entire European season in Portugal and not return to Brazil at all.
The people also spoke his language, Portuguese. It was the only place in the world outside Brazil that he felt at home. André Jordan, the developer of Quinta do Lago, had employed Brazilian architect Júlio Neves to design much of the infrastructure. And over the European winter, when he had been in Brazil, the house was remodelled and redecorated. In 1994, for the first time, he planned to spend the entire European season in Portugal and not return to Brazil at all.
Sua única criada era Juraci, que estava em residência permanente (morava lá permanentemente). Seus deveres eram cozinhar, limpar e dirigir e ela fez todos eles admiravelmente.
His one servant was Juraci, who was in permanent residence. Her duties were to cook, clean and chauffeur and she did them all admirably.
His one servant was Juraci, who was in permanent residence. Her duties were to cook, clean and chauffeur and she did them all admirably.
De fato, Senna se sentia bem toda vez que passava pela estátua do logotipo "Q" da cor do arco-íris que girava lentamente dentro de uma fonte na entrada principal do complexo. Ele sentia que estava entrando em um ambiente único onde a natureza estava em completa harmonia com seu plano de viver um estilo de vida brasileiro na Europa. Seu jardim era uma vista deslumbrante de plantas tropicais exóticas - palmeiras e bananeiras, hibiscos gigantescos, mimosas amarelas vivas, paredes inteiras de buganvílias, laranjeiras, limoeiros e abacateiros. A área, legalmente protegida desde 1987, era um habitat natural único para mais de 200 aves residentes ou migratórias, incluindo um número de espécies raras e ameaçadas de extinção. Os lagos eram um repositório rico de moluscos e outras espécies marinhas.
In fact Senna felt good every time he drove past the rainbow-coloured ‘Q’ logo statue that rotated slowly inside a fountain at the main entrance to the complex. He felt he was entering a unique environment where nature was in complete harmony with his design for living a Brazilian lifestyle in Europe. His garden was a breathtaking vista of exotic, tropical plants – palms and banana trees, giant hibiscus, vivid yellow mimosa, whole walls of bougainvillea, orange, lemon and avocado trees. The area, legally protected since 1987, was a unique natural habitat for more than 200 resident or migratory birds, including a number of rare and endangered species. The lakes were a rich repository for shellfish and other marine life.
In fact Senna felt good every time he drove past the rainbow-coloured ‘Q’ logo statue that rotated slowly inside a fountain at the main entrance to the complex. He felt he was entering a unique environment where nature was in complete harmony with his design for living a Brazilian lifestyle in Europe. His garden was a breathtaking vista of exotic, tropical plants – palms and banana trees, giant hibiscus, vivid yellow mimosa, whole walls of bougainvillea, orange, lemon and avocado trees. The area, legally protected since 1987, was a unique natural habitat for more than 200 resident or migratory birds, including a number of rare and endangered species. The lakes were a rich repository for shellfish and other marine life.
Quando ele queria, podia praticar jet-ski ou windsurf nos lagos e correr por horas ao longo das trilhas naturais. Tornava o seu regime de fitness mais suportável no clima maravilhoso e num ambiente bonito. E quando ele precisava de uma vida social, ele ia para o clube de golfe, onde os locais e moradores o conheciam, mas, mais importante, sabiam que não podia incomodá-lo. Nos restaurantes e casas noturnas do complexo, as mesmas regras eram aplicadas. E ele considerava a firma de segurança que cuidava do local como sua pessoal. Era tão eficaz que a pequena criminalidade na Quinta do Lago era praticamente inexistente.
When he wanted he could jet-ski or windsurf on the lakes and run for hours along the nature trails. It made his fitness regime more bearable in the wonderful climate and beautiful surroundings. And when he needed a social life he went to the golf club, where the locals and residents knew him but, more importantly, knew not to bother him. At the restaurants and nightclubs on the complex, the same rules applied. And he regarded the security firm that looked after the site as his own personal one. It was so effective that petty crime in Quinta do Lago was virtually non-existent.
When he wanted he could jet-ski or windsurf on the lakes and run for hours along the nature trails. It made his fitness regime more bearable in the wonderful climate and beautiful surroundings. And when he needed a social life he went to the golf club, where the locals and residents knew him but, more importantly, knew not to bother him. At the restaurants and nightclubs on the complex, the same rules applied. And he regarded the security firm that looked after the site as his own personal one. It was so effective that petty crime in Quinta do Lago was virtually non-existent.
E as coisas estavam prestes a ficar ainda melhores. No sábado à tarde, sua namorada, Adriane Galisteu, uma modelo de 21 anos, estava chegando para acompanhá-lo durante toda a temporada européia. Fazia um mês desde que ela o havia visto no aeroporto de São Paulo, quando ele saiu para começar seu desafio para o campeonato mundial de 1994. Eles estavam juntos há 14 meses e ela era tudo o que ele gostava em uma mulher, de boa aparência mas etérea, loira, com seios pequenos e pernas compridas, mas não muito alta e sem atitude. Na verdade, sua ingenuidade era refrescante e sua vida sexual (a vida sexual deles) era estimulante e compatível. Ela também era inteligente de uma maneira não óbvia, com uma percepção de coisas que nem sempre estavam claras. Ela entendias as coisas que importavam. Ele estava realmente ansioso para a noite de domingo, quando retornaria da Itália e eles seriam reunidos.
And things were about to get even better. On Saturday afternoon his girlfriend, Adriane Galisteu, a 21-year-old model, was arriving to join him for the whole of the European summer. It had been a month since she had seen him off at the airport in São Paulo, when he left to start his challenge for the 1994 world championship. They had been together for 14 months and she was everything he liked in a woman, good-looking but ethereal rather than beautiful, blonde, small-breasted and long legged but not too tall and with no attitude. In fact her naiveness was refreshing and their sex life was stimulating and compatible. She was also intelligent in an unobvious way, with a perception of things that weren’t always clear. She understood the things that mattered. He was really looking forward to Sunday evening, when he would return from Italy and they would be reunited.
And things were about to get even better. On Saturday afternoon his girlfriend, Adriane Galisteu, a 21-year-old model, was arriving to join him for the whole of the European summer. It had been a month since she had seen him off at the airport in São Paulo, when he left to start his challenge for the 1994 world championship. They had been together for 14 months and she was everything he liked in a woman, good-looking but ethereal rather than beautiful, blonde, small-breasted and long legged but not too tall and with no attitude. In fact her naiveness was refreshing and their sex life was stimulating and compatible. She was also intelligent in an unobvious way, with a perception of things that weren’t always clear. She understood the things that mattered. He was really looking forward to Sunday evening, when he would return from Italy and they would be reunited.
Ele mesmo arrumou uma pequena bolsa para as três noites que passaria em um hotel em San Pietro, perto de Bolonha, enquanto competiria no Grande Prêmio de San Marino. Não haveria jantares ou compromissos formais naquele fim de semana, então suas necessidades de roupas eram mínimas. Enquanto arrumava as coisas, ele comentou com Juraci que a vida não podia ser melhor do que era naquela manhã ensolarada no Algarve. Mas ele sempre dizia isso para as pessoas ao seu redor, lembrando a todos, e não menos a si mesmo, quão sorte todos compartilhavam a vida que a Fórmula 1 lhe dera.
He packed a small overnight bag himself for the three nights he was going to spend in a hotel in San Pietro near Bologna, whilst competing in the San Marino Grand Prix. There were no formal dinners or commitments that weekend, so his clothing needs were minimal. As he packed he remarked to Juraci that life couldn’t get any better than it was that bright sunny morning in the Algarve. But he was always saying that to the people around him, reminding them all, and not least himself, how lucky they all were to be sharing the life Formula One had given him.
Mas houve uma pequena irritação em sua vida naquela manhã gloriosa. Seu irmão, Leonardo, ficou até domingo e iria com ele para Imola. Leonardo estava em uma missão de sua família para tentar persuadi-lo a desistir de Adriane. Por todos os motivos, a família, com exceção de sua mãe Neyde, que amava o que amava, detestava Adriane. Eles a consideravam um pouco melhor do que uma camponesa e não boa o bastante para o filho deles, o herói do Brasil. A verdade era que não era da conta deles, e Senna amava a menina e provavelmente pediria a ela que se casasse com ele quando essa temporada acabasse. Mas essa família era muito restrita, e geralmente tudo era assunto de todos dentro de um círculo de seis pessoas - Milton, seu pai, sua mãe, sua irmã Viviane, seu irmão e o marido de sua irmã. A chegada de Adriane marcava o início de um longo período de convivência quando ele não voltaria ao Brasil por seis meses, algo que nunca havia feito antes. Essa decisão precipitara uma disputa familiar e Leonardo fora despachado para tentar mudar a opinião de Ayrton. Naquela semana, isso levou a algumas raras palavras duras entre Senna e Leonardo. Mas Senna não seria movido. Ele permaneceria para a temporada, mesmo que isso significasse ver muito menos a eles, especialmente Leonardo, como ele sabia que seu irmão não voltaria para Portugal enquanto Adriane estava por perto.
But there was a small irritation in his life that glorious morning. His brother, Leonardo, was staying until Sunday and would be coming with him to Imola. Leonardo was on a mission from his family to try and persuade him to give up Adriane. For all sorts of reasons the family, with the exception of his mother Neyde, who loved what he loved, detested Adriane. They regarded her as little better than a peasant girl, and not good enough for their son, the hero of Brazil. The truth was that it was none of their business, and Senna loved the girl and would probably ask her to marry him when this summer was over. But this family was tight, very tight, and usually everything was everyone’s business within a circle of six people – Milton his father, his mother, his sister Viviane, his brother and his sister’s husband. Adriane’s arrival marked the start of a long period living together when he would not return to Brazil for six months, something he had never done before. This decision had precipitated a family feud, and Leonardo had been dispatched to try and change Ayrton’s mind. Over that week, it had led to some rare harsh words between Senna and Leonardo. But Senna would not be moved. He was staying put for the summer, even if it meant seeing far less of them, especially Leonardo, as he knew his brother would not return to Portugal whilst Adriane was around.
Senna passou seu tempo entre dois grupos restritos: sua família, com quem ele se reunia no Brasil; e seu círculo particular de amigos, que era tão apertado quanto seu grupo familiar, e com quem ele passou um tempo na Europa. Adriane fazia parte desse grupo que consistia de cerca de uma dúzia de pessoas lideradas por Antonio Braga, um brasileiro rico que também dividia seu tempo entre o Brasil e Portugal. O segundo grupo abraçou Adriane, ao contrário de sua família, e muitos iriam passear com ele nas corridas. Ele gostava de tê-los por perto. A próxima corrida em Imola não seria diferente.
Senna spent his time between two tight groups: his family, with whom he congregated in Brazil; and his private circle of friends, which was just as tight as his family group, and with whom he spent time in Europe. Adriane was part of this group which consisted of around a dozen people headed by Antonio Braga, a wealthy Brazilian who also divided his time between Brazil and Portugal. The second group had embraced Adriane, unlike his family, and many would hang around with him at races. He liked having them around. The upcoming race at Imola would be no different.
A disputa familiar o incomodara, pois Adriane não poderia se juntar a ele em Imola no final de semana em que Leonardo estava por perto. Se o fizesse, haveria o perigo de uma briga pública e Ayrton Senna não lavaria a roupa de sua família particular em público.
The family dispute had annoyed him as it meant that Adriane could not join him at Imola for the weekend when Leonardo was around. If she did there was a danger of a public row and Ayrton Senna did not wash his private family linen in public.
Depois da corrida, Juraci preparou um café da manhã leve para ele e Leonardo, que voltava ao Brasil depois do Grande Prêmio de San Marino. Ela então os entregou ao aeroporto de Faro, onde o capitão Owen O'Mahoney estava esperando no próprio jato BAe HS125 de Senna para levá-los a Munique para uma reunião matinal com executivos da Audi. Senna estava negociando para assumir a franquia da Audi no Brasil. Esta foi uma reunião para finalizar os termos. Poucas horas depois do desembarque, eles estavam prontos para partir novamente para o aeroporto de Forli, perto de Bolonha. De Forli, os irmãos iam de helicóptero a Pádua e à fábrica de bicicletas de Carraro. Senna fez um novo acordo com Carraro para fabricar uma bicicleta de fibra de carbono chamada Senna, que levaria seu famoso logotipo duplo "S". Isso foi planejado por algum tempo e foi um dos muitos novos produtos sob a famosa marca Senna 'duplo S'. Ele também importaria as bicicletas Carraro para o Brasil. Irritantemente, a discussão sobre Adriane continuou no avião. Quando Leonardo ficou mais velho, ele pareceu ficar mais irritado e emotivo com as coisas. Senna não conseguia entender por que sua família estava tão chateada.
After his run Juraci prepared a light breakfast for him and Leonardo, who was returning to Brazil after the San Marino Grand Prix. She then delivered them to Faro airport, where Captain Owen O’Mahoney was waiting in Senna’s own BAe HS125 jet to fly them to Munich for a morning meeting with executives from Audi. Senna had been negotiating to take over the Audi franchise in Brazil. This was a meeting to finalise the terms. A few hours after landing they were ready to take off again this time for Forli airport near Bologna. From Forli the brothers would go by helicopter to Padua and the Carraro bicycle factory. Senna had a new deal with Carraro to manufacture a carbon-fibre bicycle called the Senna that would carry his famous double ‘S’ logo. It had been planned for some time and was one of many new products under the famous ‘double S’ Senna brand. He was also to import the Carraro bicycles into Brazil. Annoyingly, the argument about Adriane continued on the aeroplane. As Leonardo got older, he seemed to get more fractious and emotional about things. Senna could not understand why his family was so upset.
He packed a small overnight bag himself for the three nights he was going to spend in a hotel in San Pietro near Bologna, whilst competing in the San Marino Grand Prix. There were no formal dinners or commitments that weekend, so his clothing needs were minimal. As he packed he remarked to Juraci that life couldn’t get any better than it was that bright sunny morning in the Algarve. But he was always saying that to the people around him, reminding them all, and not least himself, how lucky they all were to be sharing the life Formula One had given him.
Mas houve uma pequena irritação em sua vida naquela manhã gloriosa. Seu irmão, Leonardo, ficou até domingo e iria com ele para Imola. Leonardo estava em uma missão de sua família para tentar persuadi-lo a desistir de Adriane. Por todos os motivos, a família, com exceção de sua mãe Neyde, que amava o que amava, detestava Adriane. Eles a consideravam um pouco melhor do que uma camponesa e não boa o bastante para o filho deles, o herói do Brasil. A verdade era que não era da conta deles, e Senna amava a menina e provavelmente pediria a ela que se casasse com ele quando essa temporada acabasse. Mas essa família era muito restrita, e geralmente tudo era assunto de todos dentro de um círculo de seis pessoas - Milton, seu pai, sua mãe, sua irmã Viviane, seu irmão e o marido de sua irmã. A chegada de Adriane marcava o início de um longo período de convivência quando ele não voltaria ao Brasil por seis meses, algo que nunca havia feito antes. Essa decisão precipitara uma disputa familiar e Leonardo fora despachado para tentar mudar a opinião de Ayrton. Naquela semana, isso levou a algumas raras palavras duras entre Senna e Leonardo. Mas Senna não seria movido. Ele permaneceria para a temporada, mesmo que isso significasse ver muito menos a eles, especialmente Leonardo, como ele sabia que seu irmão não voltaria para Portugal enquanto Adriane estava por perto.
But there was a small irritation in his life that glorious morning. His brother, Leonardo, was staying until Sunday and would be coming with him to Imola. Leonardo was on a mission from his family to try and persuade him to give up Adriane. For all sorts of reasons the family, with the exception of his mother Neyde, who loved what he loved, detested Adriane. They regarded her as little better than a peasant girl, and not good enough for their son, the hero of Brazil. The truth was that it was none of their business, and Senna loved the girl and would probably ask her to marry him when this summer was over. But this family was tight, very tight, and usually everything was everyone’s business within a circle of six people – Milton his father, his mother, his sister Viviane, his brother and his sister’s husband. Adriane’s arrival marked the start of a long period living together when he would not return to Brazil for six months, something he had never done before. This decision had precipitated a family feud, and Leonardo had been dispatched to try and change Ayrton’s mind. Over that week, it had led to some rare harsh words between Senna and Leonardo. But Senna would not be moved. He was staying put for the summer, even if it meant seeing far less of them, especially Leonardo, as he knew his brother would not return to Portugal whilst Adriane was around.
Senna passou seu tempo entre dois grupos restritos: sua família, com quem ele se reunia no Brasil; e seu círculo particular de amigos, que era tão apertado quanto seu grupo familiar, e com quem ele passou um tempo na Europa. Adriane fazia parte desse grupo que consistia de cerca de uma dúzia de pessoas lideradas por Antonio Braga, um brasileiro rico que também dividia seu tempo entre o Brasil e Portugal. O segundo grupo abraçou Adriane, ao contrário de sua família, e muitos iriam passear com ele nas corridas. Ele gostava de tê-los por perto. A próxima corrida em Imola não seria diferente.
Senna spent his time between two tight groups: his family, with whom he congregated in Brazil; and his private circle of friends, which was just as tight as his family group, and with whom he spent time in Europe. Adriane was part of this group which consisted of around a dozen people headed by Antonio Braga, a wealthy Brazilian who also divided his time between Brazil and Portugal. The second group had embraced Adriane, unlike his family, and many would hang around with him at races. He liked having them around. The upcoming race at Imola would be no different.
A disputa familiar o incomodara, pois Adriane não poderia se juntar a ele em Imola no final de semana em que Leonardo estava por perto. Se o fizesse, haveria o perigo de uma briga pública e Ayrton Senna não lavaria a roupa de sua família particular em público.
The family dispute had annoyed him as it meant that Adriane could not join him at Imola for the weekend when Leonardo was around. If she did there was a danger of a public row and Ayrton Senna did not wash his private family linen in public.
Depois da corrida, Juraci preparou um café da manhã leve para ele e Leonardo, que voltava ao Brasil depois do Grande Prêmio de San Marino. Ela então os entregou ao aeroporto de Faro, onde o capitão Owen O'Mahoney estava esperando no próprio jato BAe HS125 de Senna para levá-los a Munique para uma reunião matinal com executivos da Audi. Senna estava negociando para assumir a franquia da Audi no Brasil. Esta foi uma reunião para finalizar os termos. Poucas horas depois do desembarque, eles estavam prontos para partir novamente para o aeroporto de Forli, perto de Bolonha. De Forli, os irmãos iam de helicóptero a Pádua e à fábrica de bicicletas de Carraro. Senna fez um novo acordo com Carraro para fabricar uma bicicleta de fibra de carbono chamada Senna, que levaria seu famoso logotipo duplo "S". Isso foi planejado por algum tempo e foi um dos muitos novos produtos sob a famosa marca Senna 'duplo S'. Ele também importaria as bicicletas Carraro para o Brasil. Irritantemente, a discussão sobre Adriane continuou no avião. Quando Leonardo ficou mais velho, ele pareceu ficar mais irritado e emotivo com as coisas. Senna não conseguia entender por que sua família estava tão chateada.
After his run Juraci prepared a light breakfast for him and Leonardo, who was returning to Brazil after the San Marino Grand Prix. She then delivered them to Faro airport, where Captain Owen O’Mahoney was waiting in Senna’s own BAe HS125 jet to fly them to Munich for a morning meeting with executives from Audi. Senna had been negotiating to take over the Audi franchise in Brazil. This was a meeting to finalise the terms. A few hours after landing they were ready to take off again this time for Forli airport near Bologna. From Forli the brothers would go by helicopter to Padua and the Carraro bicycle factory. Senna had a new deal with Carraro to manufacture a carbon-fibre bicycle called the Senna that would carry his famous double ‘S’ logo. It had been planned for some time and was one of many new products under the famous ‘double S’ Senna brand. He was also to import the Carraro bicycles into Brazil. Annoyingly, the argument about Adriane continued on the aeroplane. As Leonardo got older, he seemed to get more fractious and emotional about things. Senna could not understand why his family was so upset.
*************************
CHAPTER 1
Life: 2:17pm
Sunday 1st May 1994
Thursday 7am to Sunday 2:17pm
Thursday 28th April 1994 was destined to be a busy day for Ayrton Senna. He woke in his villa in Quinta do Lago in the Portuguese Algarve as usual and went for an early morning run around the sand dunes and golf greens. His Portuguese housekeeper, Juraci, was already up doing errands and fussing around him. He hated leaving his Portuguese home. The four-bedroomed, white-walled villa sat in its own grounds set in a dream resort of around 2,000 acres. With golf courses and lakes on one side and a beach on the other, this paradise was still a well-kept secret as far as Senna was concerned. Only people who had been there understood the unique atmosphere and climate. The resort had a five-star hotel, four championship golf courses and many top restaurants and a nightclub.
But most of all Quinta do Lago gave him the anonymity he craved.
The people also spoke his language, Portuguese. It was the only place in the world outside Brazil that he felt at home. André Jordan, the developer of Quinta do Lago, had employed Brazilian architect Júlio Neves to design much of the infrastructure. And over the European winter, when he had been in Brazil, the house was remodelled and redecorated. In 1994, for the first time, he planned to spend the entire European season in Portugal and not return to Brazil at all.
His one servant was Juraci, who was in permanent residence. Her duties were to cook, clean and chauffeur and she did them all admirably.
In fact Senna felt good every time he drove past the rainbow-coloured ‘Q’ logo statue that rotated slowly inside a fountain at the main entrance to the complex. He felt he was entering a unique environment where nature was in complete harmony with his design for living a Brazilian lifestyle in Europe. His garden was a breathtaking vista of exotic, tropical plants – palms and banana trees, giant hibiscus, vivid yellow mimosa, whole walls of bougainvillea, orange, lemon and avocado trees. The area, legally protected since 1987, was a unique natural habitat for more than 200 resident or migratory birds, including a number of rare and endangered species. The lakes were a rich repository for shellfish and other marine life.
When he wanted he could jet-ski or windsurf on the lakes and run for hours along the nature trails. It made his fitness regime more bearable in the wonderful climate and beautiful surroundings. And when he needed a social life he went to the golf club, where the locals and residents knew him but, more importantly, knew not to bother him. At the restaurants and nightclubs on the complex, the same rules applied. And he regarded the security firm that looked after the site as his own personal one. It was so effective that petty crime in Quinta do Lago was virtually non-existent.
And things were about to get even better. On Saturday afternoon his girlfriend, Adriane Galisteu, a 21-year-old model, was arriving to join him for the whole of the European summer. It had been a month since she had seen him off at the airport in São Paulo, when he left to start his challenge for the 1994 world championship. They had been together for 14 months and she was everything he liked in a woman, good-looking but ethereal rather than beautiful, blonde, small-breasted and long legged but not too tall and with no attitude. In fact her naiveness was refreshing and their sex life was stimulating and compatible. She was also intelligent in an unobvious way, with a perception of things that weren’t always clear. She understood the things that mattered. He was really looking forward to Sunday evening, when he would return from Italy and they would be reunited.
He packed a small overnight bag himself for the three nights he was going to spend in a hotel in San Pietro near Bologna, whilst competing in the San Marino Grand Prix. There were no formal dinners or commitments that weekend, so his clothing needs were minimal. As he packed he remarked to Juraci that life couldn’t get any better than it was that bright sunny morning in the Algarve. But he was always saying that to the people around him, reminding them all, and not least himself, how lucky they all were to be sharing the life Formula One had given him.
But there was a small irritation in his life that glorious morning. His brother, Leonardo, was staying until Sunday and would be coming with him to Imola. Leonardo was on a mission from his family to try and persuade him to give up Adriane. For all sorts of reasons the family, with the exception of his mother Neyde, who loved what he loved, detested Adriane. They regarded her as little better than a peasant girl, and not good enough for their son, the hero of Brazil. The truth was that it was none of their business, and Senna loved the girl and would probably ask her to marry him when this summer was over. But this family was tight, very tight, and usually everything was everyone’s business within a circle of six people – Milton his father, his mother, his sister Viviane, his brother and his sister’s husband. Adriane’s arrival marked the start of a long period living together when he would not return to Brazil for six months, something he had never done before. This decision had precipitated a family feud, and Leonardo had been dispatched to try and change Ayrton’s mind. Over that week, it had led to some rare harsh words between Senna and Leonardo. But Senna would not be moved. He was staying put for the summer, even if it meant seeing far less of them, especially Leonardo, as he knew his brother would not return to Portugal whilst Adriane was around.
Senna spent his time between two tight groups: his family, with whom he congregated in Brazil; and his private circle of friends, which was just as tight as his family group, and with whom he spent time in Europe. Adriane was part of this group which consisted of around a dozen people headed by Antonio Braga, a wealthy Brazilian who also divided his time between Brazil and Portugal. The second group had embraced Adriane, unlike his family, and many would hang around with him at races. He liked having them around. The upcoming race at Imola would be no different.
The family dispute had annoyed him as it meant that Adriane could not join him at Imola for the weekend when Leonardo was around. If she did there was a danger of a public row and Ayrton Senna did not wash his private family linen in public.
After his run Juraci prepared a light breakfast for him and Leonardo, who was returning to Brazil after the San Marino Grand Prix. She then delivered them to Faro airport, where Captain Owen O’Mahoney was waiting in Senna’s own BAe HS125 jet to fly them to Munich for a morning meeting with executives from Audi. Senna had been negotiating to take over the Audi franchise in Brazil. This was a meeting to finalise the terms. A few hours after landing they were ready to take off again this time for Forli airport near Bologna. From Forli the brothers would go by helicopter to Padua and the Carraro bicycle factory. Senna had a new deal with Carraro to manufacture a carbon-fibre bicycle called the Senna that would carry his famous double ‘S’ logo. It had been planned for some time and was one of many new products under the famous ‘double S’ Senna brand. He was also to import the Carraro bicycles into Brazil. Annoyingly, the argument about Adriane continued on the aeroplane. As Leonardo got older, he seemed to get more fractious and emotional about things. Senna could not understand why his family was so upset.
But there was a small irritation in his life that glorious morning. His brother, Leonardo, was staying until Sunday and would be coming with him to Imola. Leonardo was on a mission from his family to try and persuade him to give up Adriane. For all sorts of reasons the family, with the exception of his mother Neyde, who loved what he loved, detested Adriane. They regarded her as little better than a peasant girl, and not good enough for their son, the hero of Brazil. The truth was that it was none of their business, and Senna loved the girl and would probably ask her to marry him when this summer was over. But this family was tight, very tight, and usually everything was everyone’s business within a circle of six people – Milton his father, his mother, his sister Viviane, his brother and his sister’s husband. Adriane’s arrival marked the start of a long period living together when he would not return to Brazil for six months, something he had never done before. This decision had precipitated a family feud, and Leonardo had been dispatched to try and change Ayrton’s mind. Over that week, it had led to some rare harsh words between Senna and Leonardo. But Senna would not be moved. He was staying put for the summer, even if it meant seeing far less of them, especially Leonardo, as he knew his brother would not return to Portugal whilst Adriane was around.
Senna spent his time between two tight groups: his family, with whom he congregated in Brazil; and his private circle of friends, which was just as tight as his family group, and with whom he spent time in Europe. Adriane was part of this group which consisted of around a dozen people headed by Antonio Braga, a wealthy Brazilian who also divided his time between Brazil and Portugal. The second group had embraced Adriane, unlike his family, and many would hang around with him at races. He liked having them around. The upcoming race at Imola would be no different.
The family dispute had annoyed him as it meant that Adriane could not join him at Imola for the weekend when Leonardo was around. If she did there was a danger of a public row and Ayrton Senna did not wash his private family linen in public.
After his run Juraci prepared a light breakfast for him and Leonardo, who was returning to Brazil after the San Marino Grand Prix. She then delivered them to Faro airport, where Captain Owen O’Mahoney was waiting in Senna’s own BAe HS125 jet to fly them to Munich for a morning meeting with executives from Audi. Senna had been negotiating to take over the Audi franchise in Brazil. This was a meeting to finalise the terms. A few hours after landing they were ready to take off again this time for Forli airport near Bologna. From Forli the brothers would go by helicopter to Padua and the Carraro bicycle factory. Senna had a new deal with Carraro to manufacture a carbon-fibre bicycle called the Senna that would carry his famous double ‘S’ logo. It had been planned for some time and was one of many new products under the famous ‘double S’ Senna brand. He was also to import the Carraro bicycles into Brazil. Annoyingly, the argument about Adriane continued on the aeroplane. As Leonardo got older, he seemed to get more fractious and emotional about things. Senna could not understand why his family was so upset.
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Fonte: Livro Fatal Weekend, escrito pelo jornalista britânico Tom Rubython
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