23 Apr 1989 San Marino Grand Prix

The 1989 San Marino Grand Prix was Round 2 of the 1989 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The event was held in Imola, Italy on Sunday, 23 April 1989. Ayrton Senna started on pole position in the McLaren Honda and was the race winner.

On lap 4 of the race, Gerhard Berger (#27) crashed his Ferrari 640 heavily at the high-speed Tamburello corner, causing the race to be stopped. Berger was extremely lucky to escape with just broken ribs and second-degree burns after his car went off the track, hit the wall at 180mph and burst into flames. Fire marshals were soon on hand to put out the subsequent raging inferno and, although Berger missed the very next round of the championship in Monaco due to his injuries, he would return to race action at the Mexican Grand Prix. By a tragic twist of fate, 5 years later, Berger’s great friend, Ayrton Senna would crash fatally at the same turn.