21.03.2024Limited and in 1:12: Senna's Williams from the Pacific Grand Prix

On May 1st, 1994, Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna lost his life at the San Marino Grand Prix. The fateful weekend in Imola was the third stop on the premier class calendar. Two weeks earlier, Senna and his fellow drivers had been at the start of a Grand Prix that is only known to those familiar with Formula 1: the Grand Prix of the Pacific, which took place at the Tanaka International Circuit in Japan. The unusual title of the race is due to the fact that the name “Grand Prix of Japan” had already been assigned for the Suzuka date.

It is no coincidence that the Formula 1 races at the Tanaka International Circuit have been forgotten. The Pacific Grand Prix was only held in 1994 and 1995 and disappeared from the calendar after just two years. With the curvy and narrow track layout, the course was not considered particularly exciting and overtaking was quite difficult. In addition, the facility in Okayama Prefecture was far from the beaten track and therefore posed logistical hurdles.

Despite the short Formula 1 chapter, track operations are still ongoing today. After the sale by the initiator and namesake Hajime Tanaka, the circuit operates under the title Okayama International Circuit and is home to, among other things, the Japanese Super GT championship. The World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) was also a guest from 2008 to 2010.

The main actor at the premiere of the premier class in 1994 was Michael Schumacher. The man from Kerpen came to the second race of the year as the opening winner from Brazil, while Ayrton Senna had to retire from his home race. His counterattack attempt began successfully with pole position. But Schumacher started better from second place and took the lead on the way into the first corner. Meanwhile, Senna took a hit from Mika Häkkinen's McLaren and was spun off the track. Further back in the field, Nicola Larini's Ferrari also slid off the track at the same point and hit Senna's Williams. For the Brazilian, the race was over extremely early.

Michael Schumacher then dominated the action and won by over a minute. Behind that, the Pacific Grand Prix marked a few firsts. Rubens Barrichello in the Jordan celebrated his first podium with third place, Heinz-Harald Frentzen in the Sauber scored points for the first time in fifth place and Roland Ratzenberger recorded his only finish in Formula 1 in eleventh place before he finished two weeks later in Imola - like Ayrton Senna – should be killed.

The 1994 Pacific Grand Prix may not have been particularly memorable. But he contributed significantly to the dramaturgy of the tragic Imola weekend. Two Schumacher victories and full points compared to two failures and an empty World Cup account for Ayrton Senna brought an early explosiveness to the fight for the world championship title, which the two were never supposed to finish.

Minichamps is now offering Ayrton Senna's Williams FW16 from the Pacific Grand Prix in a very special version. The model in scale 1:12 is limited to just 111 copies and exclusively available for ck-modelcars. The car impresses with a length of 37 centimeters, a width of 17 centimeters and the usual high quality and attention to detail. The cockpit has also been lovingly recreated and Senna's driver figure is included. The model made of resin is delivered including decals.

Ayrton Senna Williams FW16 #2 Pacific GP Formula 1 1994 1:12 Minichamps, RRP €549,95, item-no.: 543941202

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Ayrton Senna Williams FW16 #2 Pacific GP Formula 1 1994 1:12 Minichamps

494,96 €