Roland Ratzenberger

Roland Walter Ratzenberger (July 4, 1960 - April 30, 1994): Austrian racing driver born in Salzburg who competed in three Formula 1 Grands Prix in 1994. Began as a protégé of Walter Lechner at Lechner Racing School at Salzburgring upon graduating technical school at age 18. Progressed to Formula Ford in 1983, winning multiple national and continental titles including the 1986 Festival. Contested the 1987 World Touring Car Championship with Schnitzer, achieving four podium finishes in 10 races driving the BMW E30 M3.

After finishing third in the 1989 British Formula 3000 Championship, moved to Japanese motorsport with Toyota. Signed for Simtek in 1994, making his F1 debut at the Brazilian Grand Prix where he failed to qualify. Made his only Grand Prix start at the subsequent Pacific Grand Prix, finishing 11th after starting 26th. During qualifying for the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola, died from a basilar skull fracture sustained in an accident at the Villeneuve Curva, colliding with a concrete barrier at 225 km/h (140 mph) in his Simtek S941.

He was the first F1 fatality since Riccardo Paletti in 1982. The tragic weekend continued with Ayrton Senna's fatal accident the following day. When officials examined Senna's car wreckage, they found a furled Austrian flag Senna had planned to raise in Ratzenberger's honor. Both deaths led to widespread safety reforms and re-establishment of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association.