Galvão Bueno is excited when he sees Senna’s victory in Japan: “He started writing his legend” | Formula 1

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This Sunday, Esporte Espetacular and GloboEsporte.com broadcast the race in Suzuka in its entirety (see the video below). And Galvão, once again, was moved.

– The heart was very happy. The soul became very light, the eyes filled with tears. You can’t help but be touched by those moments. The post-race interview shows what Ayrton Senna was. His determination, the way he pursued victories, the way he pursued what was the greatest passion of his life. But this race had a special meaning. It is not just a victory, a world title that emerges. We knew at the time that he was beginning to write his own legend. He became a mere idol and began to gain hero status from our first mornings and Sunday mornings, the narrator said.

Next Sunday, Esporte Espetacular and GloboEsporte.com will broadcast Senna’s historic victory at the Brazilian GP in 1991

Galvão’s emotional story brings several curious behind-the-scenes stories from before, during and after the race and can be seen in its entirety on the “Jogo em Casa” podcast below.

What was it like to be in Suzuka and narrate that 1988 race?

– It was a spectacular thing, really. Senna started F1 in 1984, competing in Toleman. In 1985, Lotus’ first year, he already won his first race in Portugal, and would win another one, and in 88, it was his first year at McLaren, sharing with Prost. They won every race of the year except one. And it was an unforgettable race for that, for the expectation, for the moment. He was on a team that would give him a car to be world champion …

– I even used an expression that was used in motorsport when I started, a long time ago … I started out wanting to be a driver, right? I ended up becoming a frustrated pilot, carried out with the kids, Cacá and Popo Bueno. But I said “it was used up”, it was the carburetor that was used up, too much fuel came in … And I used this uniform expression: “Senna’s engine was used up”. Because it stayed at the beginning. Everyone passed, but he was still lucky, because no one hit him.

– And at that time it was different. He didn’t have all the instruments that existed, with all the information on the computer, the immediate weather information … Everything was in the eye. And completing the first lap, the cars passed in our cabin, imagine a car passing at 300 km / h under its window, and I looked and said: “it happened in 19”. Then, looking at it slowly, in slow motion, we saw that this was not the case. But I didn’t know either. And then, in the interview, he looked at me and said without a voice: “nineteen”. Then he said, “I completed the first lap on the 19th.” Conversation, it had been the 16th.

– And it’ll catch everyone, man. It happens, it happens, until it reaches Prost. Then there is the time for rain. There was rain to make a difference, because they had the same cars. It rained as much as it took to make a difference and stopped. Then he stopped, passed, and left.

The moments before the race.

– We went to Japan together, we were in the same hotel within Suzuka. And I remember several things that happened. He was extremely loved in Japan, it was something spectacular, like in Brazil. He was the idol of the Japanese people as if he himself was Japanese. And I remember that I went out to dinner on foot, the harassment was great, but he attended to people. And there was a child he left behind and I caught his attention: “You can’t do that, man. Imagine the trauma this child can carry.” And he made a point of coming back, calling and speaking … He was absolutely focused. It was noted that he will not even say pressure because he handled it well, but anxiety. And there at dinner we talked about it, but he was totally sure he was there: “The time has come, it will be that Sunday, it is now …”. You could sense some anxiety, but he worked intensely as he did on the eve of the race.

– It was different, it didn’t have all the technical team, all that. I remember being in the cabin with myself, Reginaldo and Armando Botelho, who was his manager and unfortunately died very early. I was worried about giving the emotion of the moment, but I looked from the side and Armando had no color. And I thought, “This man is going to pass out.” But it was absolutely unforgettable.

How were the moments after the race?

– We got to Tokyo and went to lunch. We sat down to lunch, he looked and said, “Man, look who’s there, having lunch there.” I said, “Who is it?” Then he said, “Look well, don’t you see?” Then I looked to the right and it was Bjorn Borg, the tennis player. And then he said, “I’m a big fan of this guy.” I said to him, “Do you have doubts that he is also your fanatic?” It was something like, in doubt. Then I took a little walk: “Hello, Borg, good afternoon. There is a boy there who is your fanatic and wants to greet you.” When he saw it was Senna, the two hugged each other and one was a fan of the other. I mean, there’s a little bit of simplicity that Ayrton Senna had.

Feeling of having told Senna’s story over the years with the narratives.

– Of immense gratitude. I have to thank God for giving me this opportunity, thank Globo for the trust he has always had in me over the years, thank me a little for having good luck and some talent, but for being the official voice of all these achievements. But above all, because we were fraternal friends. Ayrton Senna is exactly 10 years younger than me. And it’s funny, you look at my face and I’m starting to get old, right? Ayrton, the image we have is him at 34 years old, the face of a child. I’d be 60 now. But he was like a little brother. But in exchanging advice, I think I got more than what I gave him. But it was a very good friendship. I’m serious, but people think it’s a joke, I say, “Sometimes I still talk to him.” And I am immensely proud, happy to have in my voice all this magnificent story of a different person, not just a great pilot, but the social concern he had, the things he did. They funded reforms of children’s hospitals without anyone knowing. Everything he did without warning, and the embryo that was the Ayrton Senna Institute. In addition to being a great athlete, he was a great Brazilian.