Ex-Stig Explores Iconic SENNA Race Car
Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары
Ayrton Senna - I can’t think of a better way to welcome in the New Year than with a tribute to one of my absolute heroes. This was a case of lucky timing and generosity on the part of the Hamilton Collection, and this car’s new owner, who gave me the time to look at this very special race car. Specifically: Senna's Formula 3 Ralt-Toyota from 1982
Arriving into single-seat racing competition late at the age of 19, I needed role models to make up for my sheer lack of experience and Senna was (is) THE MAN to follow. I researched his style and his resume on a granular level - every race, every qualifying session, every interview, his back story and over time I formed a view of the man and his mastery of mind over matter. This was a man born with extraordinary talent but with a rare and special level of determination to perfect the art of driving.
Senna’s ascent up the ladder of motorsport was legendary. He contested heated battles in high speed go-karting with the likes of Terry Fullerton, before climbing into one of Ralph Firman’s Formula Ford single seaters in 1981 and dominating the competition. Living in a foreign country, in Attleborough / Norfolk of all places, Senna found kindred spirits in Great Britain. Motorsport Legends like Dennis Rushen, for whom he won both the UK & European Formula Ford 2000 Championships in 1982.
F2000 was a fast machine with super sticky slick tyres and wings that created downforce - but it wasn’t the big league, or even the gateway to it. Formula 3 was the gateway. So later that year in 1982 - Senna climbed aboard a Formula 3 car for a one-off race with West Surrey Racing run by Dick Bennetts. Yes. You can guess the outcome.. he blitzed the race and won from Pole Position.
But all of this was part of a bigger story - it was the beginning of the Senna era. The era of epic rivalries - starting with Martin Brundle the following year.. and then straight into F1 with Alain Prost the year after.. and then with Jean-Marie Balestre at the FIA. If you want to understand Senna and his craft, his driving style, his relentless determination to win at all costs - then you can’t ignore his time in Formula 3. It’s EPIC.
So this was Senna’s first Formula 3 car - Dick Bennetts told me that this was his “favourite” F3 car and that Senna was disappointed that Dick replaced it with a new one for 1983. This was a dangerous time for Senna - a make or break moment that would decide his career and it was amazing to get such a close look at HIS ACTUAL CAR!!! As a driver you live and breathe these machines for a season - you get to know every notch on the gear lever, a smudge on the seatbelts, a scratch on the tacho.. it becomes home.
Wishing you all the best for 2024 - own it and be your best you X
I hope you enjoy this deep-dive into the story of Senna's early years in Formula 3.
Big thanks to Duncan Hamilton ROFGO:
/ duncanhamiltonrofgo
Follow me:
/ bencollinsstig
#f1 #ayrtonsenna #senna
Пікірлер: 303
If you could, where would you drive this legendary little car?
@marcodeangelis5905
4 ай бұрын
Brands hatch
@Tom_Hadler
4 ай бұрын
@@marcodeangelis5905 yes, Brands Hatch, agreed. The 1983 "BanerJ" liveried chanpionship winning car of Senna was in Gran Gurismo 6, and it was a blast around there. Classic F3 season really, with Brundle as rival
@texas0bserver729
4 ай бұрын
Mid Ohio would give it a good shakedown.
@MrNinjaFish
4 ай бұрын
Knockhill of course :O) been privileged in my lifetime to have seen British F3 cars race there 20 years ago
@ninja12lawbreaker
4 ай бұрын
Well not Pembrey flat circuit where I'm from. The Nordschleiffe would be best but Brands Hatch is good with not too many blind crests and corners
Just blows my mind how good Ben is as a broadcaster and spent all those years behind a mask.
@adammoonface
4 ай бұрын
Came to the comments to sat the same thing. Such a great presenter.
@claudiomarangone614
4 ай бұрын
Ha! And I as well! Ben, you’re so good at what you do !!
@michaeltaylor8835
4 ай бұрын
who knew
@jenkszy3684
4 ай бұрын
Wasn’t a mask, it was a helmet😂
@kyleowen3371
4 ай бұрын
And yet he still became the one of the most if not the most recognised racing suit and driver..😂
Senna's time in F1 from 1984-94 symbolizes the golden and best era in F1. And this little f3 car was a symbolic entry into that era.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
It certainly was! Wonderful little car.
@MrBillUp
3 ай бұрын
100% agree. the 80's and 90's I don't think will ever be repeated or surpassed.
@tsj3025
Ай бұрын
Not understanding the 'little car' references, this car is very close to the length and width of a modern day F1 car if not bigger and certainly 'taller'......
I still get emotional about Senna, I loved him. A champion in every respect. Thank you Mr Collins.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
me too
@RAZR_Channel
3 ай бұрын
He ran people off the road and got suspend for it. He was predictably reckless and Prost used that expose him for it at the risk of a crash (which happened). That's how far Prost had to go to expose senna... senna got suspended... for "Dangerous Driving"... and it was overdue. Senna had a "God Given Right to Win" and subsequently "A God given Right to Die"... are we going to question God's decision to kill senna when he was alone and no danger to anyone.?
@RAZR_Channel
3 ай бұрын
6:13 - of This video... my point exactly. And if you dare look at has his famous interview with Stewart. senna Reeked of arrogance. senna was certainly a skilled driver as proven in stand alone track times. But he abused that skill, endangered other drivers. it was only going to end 1 way for senna : death on the track either his own or someone else.
Fascinating about the radiator trick. Ayrton was so in tune with mechanical and technical advantages. A friend who was part of his team’s crew at Lotus told me about how Senna demanded that the team came up with a procedure to install a brand new turbocharger during qualifying, knowing that small particles and dust would render them less efficient by the last laps of the session, when the track was fastest. Great presentation, and what an immaculate collection shared in this video.
Martin Brundle was a truly incredible driver. Doesn't get the credit he deserves.
Any time I hear the name ‘Tommy Byrne’ I can’t help but smile. A bit of a melancholy smile to be honest… as I think of what might have been if circumstances had played out a bit differently. We all have our motorsport heroes. And those heroes have a hero - named Ayrton Senna. Rest well, sir.
I was there at Thruxton .Remember standing next to Dick and Ayrton as they discussed in great detail the handling etc.I almost bought Mansilla's similar car but didn't have the budget to run it...had a one off race in March 803...thanks for the memories! Watched Ayrton over the years from his time with Ralph Firman until the tragic end.
Clark and senna for me is the best in f1, shame they both died at their prime
@posniknelb6114
Ай бұрын
Clark yes, Senna no. Schumacher was superior
@nilychkirilov
10 күн бұрын
@@posniknelb6114 Schumacher disagrees.
As a total mansell fan, I have to agree Senna was the greatest. Lovely tribute film Ben. Another great Senna moment was one year later in 1984 he was invited as a wild card to the Nordshleiffe for Mercedes E190 new car expo. Merc spent a fortune inviting all the best racers in the world to showcase 20+ cars. Senna was amongst them, it rained a little and he destroyed the worlds best racers in a car he'd never driven on a track he didn't know. LOL
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
He was the wet weather KING
You nailed the analysis of Senna's driving. 'Getting the platform to squat, grip and get out of the corner quickly.' A bit like driving a Porsche 911. Senna knew exactly what these cars could and couldn't do. Ben: I wish you had been commentating alongside Martin Brundle in F1. I loved Murray Walker, but your insight juxtaposed against Martin's would've been the ultimate commentary on F1.
Excellent video. Love the little details that gives us some insight into just how competitive and skilled these drivers are. Brilliant Ben, thank you.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Thanks! Was fascinating to learn research all this.
@captainianr
4 ай бұрын
What he said! Thanks for the video!
I was fortunate to work on Atlantic cars in the USA at the end of the Ralt RT4 era. Similar in design to the F2 RT2 and F3 RT3, the cars were miniature F1 cars in so many ways. Aluminum monocoque, blade type adjustable front and rear sway bars, huge ground effect tunnels, stressed engine and gearbox. To this day the RT4&5 cars in the USA are works of art to me. I’ll keep racing my Bugeye but if I hit that lottery one day…..😉 Great film Ben.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
love to have a run in an Atlantic - I never raced one and went to Indy Lights instead but the Atlantic series was awesome in its day
Those RALTs were always such a beautifully proportioned little thing, proof that if it looks right, it is right. Their total domination in the smaller formulae all over the world is testament to just how "right" they were, and how brilliant Ron Tauranac was as a designer
One of the first videos that talks about Senna's throttle technique. I still think actually Senna was not stabbing at the throttle as such, but in fact very very early on the throttle prior to the apex, but what you hear is a sequence of tiny lifts to keep correcting the nose of the car. Intentionally induced instability, almost. Schumacher did something similar years later, but he overlapped throttle and left foot brake, to make an unstable rear end more stable. John Barnard talks about it in a podcast and why Schumacher loved the v12 Ferrari when he first tested it, due to the degree of engine braking and natural instability of the rear end on corner entry, which he could tune out with his throttle and brake technique. Almost like the opposite of what Senna did.
@johnmadden2421
4 ай бұрын
Go and find the video of Senna driving a Honda NSX. It includes several shots of his feet on the pedals and he is quite clearly stabbing the throttle.
I think most of us are quite jealous of your career!!
Senna, THE PILOT, we miss him a lot
@Theblackiesaga
3 ай бұрын
Absolutely
The old footage is quite something..thanks..🏎
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Stunning isnt it.
So cool to see an earlier car he raced. Must have been fascinating to look around. Thanks for a brilliant video!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! A lot of fun making this one.
Ayrton Senna for ever...
Great story Ben. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Nice one ben💚🇧🇷
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Thank you bud!
I really love these TG/GT style serious mini documentaries.
Ben is the real deal. Love the stuff you and your team produce. Glad you're getting some traction - excuse the pun!
Monaco 1984 was like his 5º race in F1. To win that, against monsters like Lauda, Prost, Piquet and Mansell, in the rain, in a inferior car... There're no words for it.
This car maybe the most rare car drived by Senna
And great point about the throttle blipping… he was a “feel” driver and that technique provides better feedback and range of control for a driver like that. Keeping the weight on the front and moving the back of the car with those pulses is a great technique especially in a momentum spec series.
His WSR car is in Gran Turismo 6 and it definitely fits the slow car fast description. Tons of grip but not much power. It's definitely the type of car you'd want to drive to master tracks.
Love ya Ben! I have a man crush 😁 Senna was also my hero growing up in the 80's and 90's, and to this day is still the GOAT in my eyes. I loved him so much I wanted him to win even over other British drivers. Being English myself, and as patriotic as they come, this is saying allot.
I always liked the RT3 Ralts and of course the near cousin the Ralt RT4 that was common here in Australia when Formula Pacific (Atlantic) was the main open wheel catergory here in Australia. Such pretty cars. They Looked somehow just "right" in my eyes. I remember my brother coming back from UK at the end of 83. Talking about these 2 young guys and their epic battle in British F3 and that they were going to be something special in the future. They were of course Senna and Martin Brundle. 🤔
Absolutely Brilliant Ben, you are a natural behind the Mike.
Thanks Ben for this very nice one on Ayrton! 👍💪✌
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you Mr. Collins. 🙇♂
Beautifully done and presented! Very informative and educational! But I was waiting for the Stig to take it out for a lap or two!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Haha I wish. It's off to the US now!
Still soo surreal to me that he’s gone. I feel blessed to have watched him race. He was an amazing human.
Fantastic! I am love for small formula cars particularly. This one is like a Holly Grail to me. Just the Senna's F3 with the Pool Jeans sponsor (the white one) can bring more memories to the fans.
I couldn't help but feel it while watching this video. Ben holds Ayrton Senna in the highest regard. I'm old enough to have seen Senna doing amazing stuff during his F1 career. Ben's high regard is entirely understandable, not that I was old enough to fully appreciate it at the time. I was watching the race when Senna crashed at Imola in 1994 at seriously high speed. I was 23 at the time. I don't know what else to say.
Awesome job! Beautiful sentiment for Senna!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Thank you!
Never in my life i wished i could own a car more than this one right now. I hope it has a good owner.
I saw him drive the F5000 race at Elkhart Lake. He sure seemed to be having a ball with the tail WAY out all the way.
So proud of my favorite brand Toyota being involved in carving out the legend that is Ayrton Senna. What a car, and what a racer!
I love how you explain things. I had the luxury of having driving skills honed by Kenny Brack and he explained just like you do. Simple, clear and to the point❤
Well spoken words at the end @BenCollinsDrives
What a great story ❤
Wow. Love these old racing cars so much more than modern formula stuff, thanks for another great video. 🏆
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it! Loved making this one.
Beautiful car, beautiful history, thank you so much!
Great story, great car and the greatest driver, RIP Senna. Good work Ben.
What a great video. 👏👏👏
What is so good about these videos is that Ben is a natural presenter &,of course,has been there & worn the T-shirt!
Great show, Ben. Thank you .
Brilliant doc!
Ben you are The Pro💚💚💚🤍🏳️🤍
what a great piece - did the man justice!
Great piece. The Senna admiration shows, and makes it even more interesting. And yes, I also believe that Senna is the GOAT
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the film.
Love the respect and admiration Ben has for those drivers.
I'm as much a fan of MB as ASdS, both great drivers. Well done for mentioning the rivalry. 👍
Ben, you are such an English gentleman yet so savage in the cockpit. Kinda reminds me of Senna, Brundle, Lauda, Hunt. What a joy having someone like you share this special little car.
Great job Ben another great video, Job well done.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Exceptional!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Thanks!
Great video!! Thank you!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you liked it!
Thank Ben, may 2024 also be a glorious year for you! Brilliant vid, thank you. Great insights, admiration and vision and I particularly enjoyed hearing Senna’s sentiments about the car.
Many Ralt's racing Vintage across the USA!
Amazing video thanks Ben for the story and sharing.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
My pleasure!
great article, cheers mate
Superb video great to know more of these details and good to hear you mention just how good MB was against Senna in f3. This is a super film so much better than the one before where AH didn’t seem to know or care much about the amazing collection of cars in their showroom: please do some more on the other cars from there- thanks
Great video as always!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Cheers man! Glad you enjoyed this one.
Excellent piece of Motorsport journalism, I suppose the old Murray saying that those who can do it and those who can't talk about it. I think the fact that Ben has done it shows in his presentation, you need to have the experience to report as knowledgeable and correctly as Ben shows in this tribute to the best driver of his era. Thank you Ben, I really enjoyed it.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed this one!
Great film, ben: Thank you 🙏
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Thanks boss.
This is brilliantly done, thanks a lot Ben! This took me back to the time when I got emotional watching the documentary that came in a decade earlier. Very well done.
@bencollinsdrives, you are the best of documenting the historic racing cars! Senna was my childhood hero and insparation, when I went go kart racing.
Thank you Ben that was beautiful.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it.
Awesome story about the radiator. Definitely telling my kid that one.
Excellent perspective Ben
Very good explanation.
I grew up watching Senna. My dad followed him from Tolman saying he was the best ever. This episode was brilliant
@vincentsouchaud6717
4 ай бұрын
*Toleman.
Gracias hombre
I'm so glad you are doing KZread videos.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
I'm glad you're enjoying them.
Beautiful Ben...! 'Long live the GOAT'
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Legend!
Brilliant story brilliant stuff!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@benoitdeclercq9722
4 ай бұрын
welcome..how could a petrolhead not enjoy the content? 😁@@BenCollinsDrives
Great intelligent narrative
Great video! The day Senna died, F1 was never the same for me. Absolutely this car is a world treasure.
Your enthusiasm and clariy make this one of the very best videos you've made.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Wow, thank you!
I do hope we get to see you push this one!
I saw Senna's first F1 car last year at Goodwood such a pleasure to see his early cars great video Ben like all videos good job
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Fascinating to see isnt it!
Cool video. Good storytelling. I love how you weave the history and details in but keep it interesting and flowing. Also, that’s a cool car. 😎
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed it.
I mean..a legend talking about a legend. Its a legendary video! Thank you for that!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Haha thanks!
Now I can think about is putting adjustable sway bars on my car.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Haha do it.
You have the best job ever. I understand safety as a stunt driver but look at what you have expanded to. It’s like you can drive anything and to show us lovers who can’t the best view. Thank you Ben. Keep going and stay safe Ps:stay on checks and maintenance ❤
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
thank you glad you liked this one!
I was lucky to go to a few rounds of the 1983 F3 season, supported Brundle of course. It was a fantastic season.
Thanks for that mate. Being a Brazilian teen in the 80s, Senna was my childhood hero. Still is I guess. Anyway, brilliant piece you did here. Much success to you 🏁
That was a great story, well told. Thanks for sharing. I'm sure glad you get to speak these days. 👍😆
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
What a great video! Loving this youtuber side of your personality :)
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad to hear it.
Fantastic video. Senna is my driving hero. My childhood was spent sitting with my dad watching Senna race and then going karting. Good memories
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed the vid.
Greatly appreciated the history lesson on one of the greatest drivers ever!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
I thought we were going to see you drive it!
That was amazing Ben, that was worthy of peak Top Gear!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
Senna was and still is my HERO: ❤💛💚
I had no idea you had a channel until a minute ago. Subbed.
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Welcome along dude.
More rare car stories please ben 👍
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
Working on it!
This was an interesting piece of history, obviously I'm aware of Senna's achievements in F1 but did not know anything of his racing career prior to that. Thanks for the excellent video Mr. Collins!
@BenCollinsDrives
4 ай бұрын
You're welcome!