Ayrton Senna: The lost interview by InsideGrandPrix

Ayrton Senna came to Europe in 1981, at the age of twenty-two, to begin his open wheel racing career competing in British Formula Ford 1600. By the end of the season he had established himself as the man to beat, winning the two prestigious national British Formula Ford titles.

Keith Sutton takes up the story:

“For some reason I decided to go down to Brands Hatch the following weekend on the train using a free British Rail promotion ticket that was obtained after saving tokens from boxes of Kellogg’s Cornflakes.”

Keith remembers:

“I had just arrived at the Brands paddock when Senna approached me after recognising me from Thruxton. He asked me why I had been taking photographs of him. ‘Are you a professional photographer?’ he enquired. ‘Yes of course,’ was my reply. ‘Well I need photographs to send over to Brazil on a regular basis. Can you help me out?’ Naturally I agreed but only under the condition ‘that you pay me!”