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Who were Ayrton Senna’s race engineers?


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#1 Gold

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Posted 24 August 2019 - 01:15

Has anyone ever compiled a list?

I mean, his actual race engineer (not for example, his teammate’s).

What I know:

1984: ?
1985: Steve Hallam (?)
1986: Steve Hallam (?)
1987: Steve Hallam (?)
1988: ?
1989: ?
1990: ?
1991: ?
1992: ?
1993: Giorgio Ascanelli
1994: David Brown

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#2 Kingsleyrob

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Posted 24 August 2019 - 05:31

Take a look here Gold https://www.grandpri...s-robinson.html

It should help with 1991 - James Robinson.

I had the pleasure of becoming acquainted with James after a chance meeting in the pit lane during the Thursday set up for the Canadian Grand Prix in 1988. We met up again in the pits just before the start of the US GP in Detroit a week later.

We subsequently met up at Spa the same year, and he gave me a tour of the Williams factory at Didcot when I dropped by shortly after our initial meeting.

When James was with Arrows he kindly facilitated my presence in the pits at final practice in the British Grand Prix, the year Michele Alboreto and Alex Caffi were driving, 1990.

A friendly and talented Yorkshireman who must have some great stories after working in Formula One during interesting times - I’m forever grateful to him for allowing me to get so close to the action.

If you read this, thanks James!

Rob

Edited by Kingsleyrob, 24 August 2019 - 06:21.


#3 Tim Murray

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Posted 24 August 2019 - 06:02

Steve Nichols in 1988 and 1989:

https://www.newelva....iew-Feb2018.pdf

https://www.google.c...ve-nichols/?amp

Giorgio Ascanelli in 1992 as well as 1993:

https://www.grandpri...-ascanelli.html

#4 lustigson

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Posted 27 August 2019 - 13:42

I seem to remember, from my book's research, that Rory Byrne was closely involved with Senna at Toleman in 1984, but I'm not sure he was his engineer.



#5 raceannouncer2003

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Posted 28 August 2019 - 05:43

Toleman, 1984, Pat Symonds ?

 

Vince H.



#6 Thundersports

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Posted 28 August 2019 - 16:42

Chris Dinnage at Lotus.



#7 Gold

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Posted 06 May 2020 - 02:58

Thanks all, almost there. Chris Dinnage appears to have been Senna’s chief mechanic, not race engineer at Lotus. So there’s still some gaps.
 

1984: Pat Symonds (confirmed. Dallas 1984 “the wall moved” story)

1985: Steve Hallam (?) Chris Dinnage (?)
1986: Steve Hallam (?) Chris Dinnage (?)
1987: Steve Hallam (?) Chris Dinnage (?)
1988: Steve Nichols
1989: Steve Nichols
1990: ?
1991: James Robinson
1992: Giorgio Ascanelli
1993: Giorgio Ascanelli
1994: David Brown 
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#8 sstiel

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Posted 06 May 2020 - 09:17

Steve Hallam talked about Senna here: https://www.youtube....EqoNtimo&t=785s


Edited by sstiel, 06 May 2020 - 09:21.


#9 guiporsche

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Posted 06 May 2020 - 13:56

1990 - from the German GP onwards, Gordon Kimball (as per Autocourse 1990, p48: http://edition.pages...27-eb41e38d5a4b).

Tim Wright was Berger's engineer so either he doubled up or perhaps it was Neil Oatley for Senna during the first GP's of 1990?



#10 sstiel

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Posted 06 May 2020 - 14:13

1990 - from the German GP onwards, Gordon Kimball (as per Autocourse 1990, p48: http://edition.pages...27-eb41e38d5a4b).

Tim Wright was Berger's engineer so either he doubled up or perhaps it was Neil Oatley for Senna during the first GP's of 1990?

Brilliant. How did you get the link?



#11 Gold

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Posted 07 May 2020 - 03:05

Getting there!
 

1984: Pat Symonds (confirmed. Dallas 1984 “the wall moved” story)

1985: Steve Hallam
1986: Steve Hallam (?) Chris Dinnage (?)
1987: Steve Hallam (?) Chris Dinnage (?)
1988: Steve Nichols
1989: Steve Nichols
1990: First half: (?) Second half: Gordon Kimball
1991: James Robinson
1992: Giorgio Ascanelli
1993: Giorgio Ascanelli
1994: David Brown 


#12 guiporsche

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Posted 07 May 2020 - 08:40

At least for his Honda years (87-92) it would be interesting to add his Japanese race engineers from the engine side: from 1990 to 1992 it was Takeo Kiuchi, who in 1989 had worked with Prost.

 

https://www.motorspo...ight-end-tunnel

https://www.oldracin...er/Takeo_Kiuchi

https://www.motorspo...-kiuchi/193746/


Edited by guiporsche, 07 May 2020 - 08:41.


#13 guiporsche

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Posted 07 May 2020 - 09:31

Senna's Renault engineer at Lotus & Williams: Bruno Mauduit

 

A good interview with him: https://ecole.org/fr/336/VA300600.pdf

 

Also: https://motorsport.n...-mai,75846.html



#14 Sterzo

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Posted 07 May 2020 - 10:14

1990 - from the German GP onwards, Gordon Kimball (as per Autocourse 1990, p48)

Trivia point: Indycar driver Charlie Kimball is his son.