On May 1st, 2017, on the day of the 23rd anniversary of the three-time champion’s legacy, the Ayrton Senna do Brasil Square was opened by the city of São Paulo in one of its most affluent neighborhoods, Paraíso, next to Ibirapuera Park. The ceremony started at 11 AM, and was attended by city officials, fans and the Ayrton Senna Institute’s president, Viviane Senna, along with Ayrton’s niece and the Institute’s Branding Director, Bianca Senna.

One of the square’s main attractions is the 2.5-ton bronze statue “Velocidade, Alma e Emoção” [Speed, Soul and emotion], created in 1995 by Melinda Garcia in honor of the driver. The piece was removed from the entrance of the Ayrton Senna Tunnel and totally restored in order to be displayed on an elevated area in the middle of the Square.

On the day of the opening, the “Ayrton Senna Concept Box” wagon there, displaying an exhibit with original items that belonged to the three-time champion and selling the driver’s official merchandise. Developed by Truckvan, a company that specializes in solutions on wheels and a partner in the project, the Ayrton Senna wagon was parked inside the Modelódromo Leisure and Sports Center, located on 290 Curitiba Street – which is also the address of the Ayrton Senna do Brasil Square.

Photos: Mariana Caramez