Senna's Death Trial


24 September 1997 At the 21st session of Senna's trial Roland Bruynseraede and Federico Bendinelli testified. First is Bruynseraede, the Belgian FIA representative who approved the licensing of the Imola track in 1994. He said that two months before the race he inspected the track. The owners of the track have always complied with all the suggestions to improve the safety of the track made by FIA after every GP for the following year. The last inspection was carried out on the Wednesday before the race and nothing unusual or irregular was found. FIA never asked for changes to the Tamburello to be made and has never received complaints from drivers about that section of the track.

Next was lawyer Bendinelli, who in 94 was administrator and now is president of Sagis, the company that manages the Imola track. He said that in time the track has been modified to a certain extent and all changes had been approved by FIA. In 89 the very first real change at the Tamburello was carried out following a suggestion by Alain Prost, who advised to have the grass section substituted with the one made of concrete, to allow a better control of the car if someone left the track there. The changes required by FIA after 94 were very general and were not aimed only at the Imola track.

Lawyer Laudi, defender of Bendinelli, asked his client about the changes at the Tamburello. Bendinelli replied that the Tamburello is different now from what it was before, but the slope and the transition between the track and the area outside it is identical to how it was before. In the meantime Sagis has obtained from FIA three approvals.

The trial will restart on 3 October with Williams, Head and Newey. Coulthard will testify on the 28th and on the 31st the trial will enter its final stage.


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