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FILE | Clarion
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On May 1, 1994, the motor world shook. The Brazilian Ayrton senna, then driver of the Williams-Renault team, hit his car against a concrete wall and ended his career at the San Marino Grand Prix, at the Imola circuit.
The impact, which was estimated to have occurred at 218 kilometers per hour, ended the life of the 34-year-old driver and a three-time Formula 1 champion.
Brazil was shocked. The Rio de Janeiro country lost one of its most outstanding athletes in such a tragic way that it ended up changing the security conditions of Formula 1 thereafter.
And among all those who mourned the loss of Ayrton, was Maria da Graça Meneghel, Xuxa. The popular singer had had a relationship with the native of Sao Paulo a few years ago and, although they were no longer together, the pilot’s family and the Brazilian press recognized her as “Senna’s widow.”
The athlete and the artist met publicly on her television program. According to Clarín, the first time they saw each other was in a mini report on the “Xuxa Show”, in 1987, but they became closer after Marlene Mattos, the famous Xuxa representative, exchanged their phones.
“He is a simple and loving person, a kind man”Xuxa commented on the pilot, with whom they began a couple relationship that lasted two years.
Meanwhile, he had changed a lot. The sports press of the time highlighted the different attitude of Senna, who went from being grumpy and cutting to someone always ready to talk and friendly with people in the motor world.
The sad premonition
Just as it was their first meeting on the artist’s program, Ayrton arrived at the Christmas special of the “Xuxa Show” in 1988 and there, before the cameras, there was a sad coincidence.
“Santa Claus gave me a great gift this year,” the singer started counting when the pilot was present in the studio, and the woman began to kiss him on the face while wishing him a happy New Year.
“Happy 1989,” Xuxa said, before leaving a mark of red lipstick on Senna’s face. “Happy 1990”, repeated the artist; “Happy 1991”; “Happy 1992”; “Happy 1993”, and there he stopped, owing the 1994 kiss, the year that ‘o Rei’ passed away.
The concrete thing is that the relationship between the two continued. The pilot traveled to Brazil whenever he could to be with his brand-new partner and even left his hair longer at the singer’s request.
The Buenos Aires, however, would only last until 1990. Much was speculated about the reasons for the break, some pointing to the pilot and others to Xuxa.
While Ayrton wanted her to accompany him to the races, the artist wanted Senna to stay in Brazil to accompany her on her projects. In March of that year, the pilot left for Europe and that was the end point of the popular couple.
“We were going to get married”
The last moment they were seen together was at the Monaco Grand Prix although, according to Xuxa, they had already put an end to their relationship. “I came like any Brazilian to inflate for Ayrton, since I never saw a Formula 1 race here,” said the singer then.
Senna, for her part, even with the memory alive, emphasized that this had been her most important relationship. “Our wedding was going to be the day I can win the Brazilian Grand Prix”commented the pilot.
Coincidentally, Monaco was one of Ayrton’s six victories of the season that ultimately took the Formula 1 title after a tight dispute with Frenchman Alain Prost of Ferrari.
The following year, the Sao Paulo native was left with seven races, the two-time championship and his third title for the McLaren team. That year he added an emotional victory at home in the Brazilian Grand Prix. At that point, she no longer had anyone to marry.
The following two years, the irregularity in the results for Senna, added to McLaren’s problems for the manufacture of his cars, cost the Brazilian dearly, who could not celebrate with the British team again.
In 1994 Ayrton switched to Williams-Renault, but found problems with the passenger compartment of the car. ‘O Rei’ was never comfortable and, at the time of the San Marino GP, he was a young man Michael Schumacher the one that reigned aboard his Benetton and would be consecrated at the end of the season.
That May 1, after the accident at the Tamburello curve, much of Brazil mourned the South American sports idol nut, and so did Xuxa, the “widow” of the pilot who could not wish him a happy 1994.
“I thought I would find it later. I tried to talk to him many times, but it didn’t happen. It will be for another life “the singer reflected at Senna’s funeral.
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