[Book Review] Ayrton Senna

Ayrton Senna – Through My Eye

By Paul-Henri Cahier

For 10 years, from 1984 to 1994, Ayrton Senna scorched the Formula One scene with his incredible driving prowess. Believed by some to be almost super-human behind the wheel, he lost his life in a freak accident at Imola, which quite ironically only served to heighten the almost-religious following by his legions of fans. Like other lost champions such as Clark, Rindt and Ascari before him, the life of Ayrton Senna will always hold a certain fascination for fans of Formula One history.

In “Ayrton Senna—Through My Eye” photographer Paul-Henri Cahier, son of famous post-war photographer Bernard Cahier, pays tribute to the memory of Senna with a compilation of 105 of his best color photographs of the Brazilian champion. With a single, large-format photo per page, Cahier traces Senna’s decade in Formula One from his first drive with Toleman in 1984, to his final fateful ride with Williams at Imola in 1994. The book is beautifully produced, and artistically designed, however, if there is one item to be nitpicked it is that I would have preferred to have had the captions located with the individual photos rather than compiled at the end of the book. Be that as it may, this book will certainly be a must-have collectible for any Senna fan.

Available from the publisher Autosports Marketing Associates for $50 (+s&h) at www.autosportsltd.com or by calling (410) 229-0123