May 1st, 2025, was filled with emotion at Interlagos, São Paulo’s iconic racetrack, as fans gathered for Brazil’s most significant tribute to Ayrton Senna. The 20th edition of the Ayrton Senna Racing Day brought together athletes, enthusiasts, and devoted fans from all generations, celebrating the legacy of the three-time Formula 1 World Champion.
This year’s event broke records, welcoming over 11,000 participants, including amateur and professional athletes, and fans from across Brazil. Participants also traveled from nine countries across Europe, Latin America, and North America, such as Maria Paula, a 29-year-old systems engineer from Venezuela. Moved by her first participation, she shared, “I’ve committed myself to becoming better every day, and Ayrton is my inspiration”.
Maria exemplifies the significant shift in participant demographics: women represented 52% of the registrations, up from 40% in 2024. Additionally, attendance by individuals aged 30 or younger quadrupled compared to the previous year.
Over 300 children also enjoyed a unique experience with the Senninha Racing Day, an obstacle course inspired by the adventures of the children’s character created by Ayrton Senna over three decades ago.
“The Senna brand embodies Ayrton’s values in all our activities, partnerships, events, and experiences for fans of all ages,” said Ana Simões, Marketing Director at Senna Brands, the company behind the event. “While striving to connect closely with younger generations, we also cherish the emotional memories of those who saw Ayrton race. Ultimately, his legacy lives within each of us.”
Lalalli Senna, artist and Ayrton’s niece, noted the special significance of the date, “May 1st has become a day when fans express their deep love and admiration for Ayrton. It’s wonderful seeing younger generations participating in an event like this.”
Beyond the Finish Line
One highlight was the exclusive exhibition, “Beyond the Finish Line,” featuring 29 personal items from the Senna family’s private collection, many displayed publicly for the first time. Actor Nicolas Prattes, who visited the exhibition after participating in the one-lap race, remarked, “Being here honors and celebrates Brazil’s greatest sports icon on the global stage.”
Mauro Silva, midfielder from Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning team, also participated, viewing the original banner displayed by the players during their World Cup final celebration. The famous phrase, “Senna, we accelerated together; the fourth title is ours!” remains one of the most iconic tributes from that year. “Seeing this banner, donated by us to the Senna family and now shown publicly for the first time, is incredibly moving, especially at an event celebrating Senna,” Silva said.
The 2026 edition has already been confirmed. The 2025 Ayrton Senna Racing Day was supported by brands including Asics, Claro, Heineken 0.0, Newon, Curaoprox, Lindoya, Guaraná Antarctica, Gatorade, Logitech, Mucilon, Jaguaré Bananas, Schio Maçãs, LEGO, Sid Special Paint, and Freixenet.
