THE REPORT OF AYRTON SENNA'S CRASH

It has been reported in todays (10th December 1995) News of the
World that the report into the crash of Ayrton Senna has been
leaked.

Professor Enrico Lorenzini said that the "steering was not
working properly". However, he goes on to state that he is
certain that the steering column broke before the crash, and was
due to the column being "badly welded together".

"The rod joining the steering wheel to the wheels was virtually
sliced in half. It had been badly welded together about a third
of the way down  and couldn't stand the strain of the race. We
discovered scratches on the crack in the rod. It seemed like the
job had been done in a hurry, but I can't say how long before
the race. Someone had tried to smooth over the join following
the welding. I have never seen anything like it". 

It is reported that the column was reduced in size because Senna
wanted a clearer view of the instrument panel. To carry this
out, according to Lorenzini's report, the column was split into
two sections - both of different diameters - and welded
together. "The two parts were of different diameters and I have
heard that the job was done so that the steering whell could be
lowered for comfort. But this is the first time I have ever seen
such a job. Generally, these simple steel rods - around 70cm
long - are always in one piece. This one had been welded
together at the 23cm mark. The thinner part was next to the
steering wheel, and stayed stuck to the steering wheel on the
floor as you see it after the crash. The thicker part was below
and the difference in diameter was made up by a joint welded
onto a hollow tube. This is where the break happened. I believe
that the rod was faulty, probably cracked, even during the
warm-up. And moments before the crash only a tiny piece was left
connected and therefore the car didn't respond in the bend".

On the subject of video evidence, Lorenzini was similarly
forthright "This is the tragic part. Here you can see how Senna
tried to avoid the crash. He had incredible reactions and was
physically far superior..... He wrenched the wheel and the car
kept going straight on. This was the point where only a tiny
piece of metal was connected to the rod. Then he hit the brakes,
but he was already flying above the ground so he just kept
going. This is the dip in the road. But that, even though it
didn't help, was not the cause of the accident... The fact is
that the metal couldn't stand the strain of the race".

Williams' lawyer, Roberto Causo, has said that "Our data shows
the steering was working until the moment of impact". The News
of the World also contacted Frank Williams, and put the
following questions to him:

Q: Was any welding carried out on the steering rod before the
race?
FW: No comment

Q: Have you seen a copy of the crash report?
FW: No.

Q: Did you know that your chief designer (Adrian Newey) admitted
altering the car's steering rod?
FW: No comment.

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Copyright 1995 by Motorsport News International