A new Netflix documentary about Ayrton Senna has surprised viewers with some scenes more reminiscent of an episode of Derry Girls rather than that of the Brazilian motorsport legend.
The series follows the life of Ayrton Senna from the beginning of his racing career in Formula Ford to the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix where he was involved in a fatal crash.
Senna is regarded as one of the most captivating personalities in the history of motorsport.
The series was produced with the help of Ayrton Senna’s family, with Viviane Senna stating: “It is very special to be able to announce that we will tell the story that only a few people know about him.
“The Senna family is committed in making this project something totally unique and unprecedented. And no one better than Netflix, that has a global reach, to be our partner.”
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This week Netflix launched the six-part series dramatising his fascinating if ultimately tragic life.
However, viewers were caught off guard as one scene in the programme shows Derry city.
The Brazilian spent some of his formative years in racing in England, driving on the Formula Ford circuit with the Van Diemen team.
In the first episode of the programme, it follows Senna’s journey from Brazil to the UK as he tries to carve out a racing career.
He’s shown celebrating with family after getting married in Brazil and embracing his new wife Lilian.
What viewers didn’t expect is that he’d end up in Derry.
One local said: “Watching the new Netflix bio on Senna. Seems after Brazil he did a short stint in Derry lol. I think we would have known.”
But Derry it unmistakably is, as immediately after his marriage, himself and Lilian are seen holding hands in the back of a black taxi, new wedding bands on show.
They pass under the Craigavon, or ‘Old Bridge’ to locals, before making their way down Orchard Row next to the historic Derry Walls.
Derry Girls at the top of Orchard Row.
This is a location that will be familiar to fans of Derry Girls during the scene when the girls chase after Toto the dog, which also took place on Orchard Row, overlooking the Bogside area of the city.
The girls chase the dog all the way into St Columba’s Church, Longtower, which sits nearby.
The Derry Girls chase Toto the dog down Orchard Row.
Senna then has another shot where the couple are at Robert Street in the Waterside area of the city, in the distance looking across the city St Eugene’s Cathedral is visible.
The couple’s luggage is unloaded and they settle into their new home.
Senna and his wife move into their new home in the Waterside.