Manslaughter charge looms for Senna's boss

DERICK ALLSOP

Frank Williams and Patrick Head, the two senior officials of the Williams Formula One team, are expected to be charged in the next 10 days with manslaughter following the inquiry into the death of their driver, Ayrton Senna, at the San Marino Grand Prix 21 months ago.

The public prosecutor in Bologna is about to announce the conclusion of his investigation into the accidents which killed Senna, three-times world champion, and the Simtek driver, Roland Ratzenberger.

It is understood the prosecutor will ask for two-year jail sentences to be given to Williams and Head, but that a form of plea bargaining could result in no more than suspended sentences.

According to Italian sources, a number of "participants", including the director of the circuit at Imola, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, also face charges.

The case is due to be heard by one of Italy's lower courts and would probably not be scheduled until late next year.

However, since it is anticipated prosecution and defence lawyers would follow a widely used procedure within the Italian legal system and reach a mutually acceptable settlement, the likelihood is that the case will be in and out of court before the next San Marino Grand Prix, on 5 May.

The Italian sources say that Williams and Head have no previous convictions and that even in the event of a guilty verdict, there is no danger that they would be sent to jail.

Early reports from Italy claimed the inquiry would conclude that the steering of Senna's car broke while he was leading the race, leaving him powerless to prevent its crashing into a wall at the Tamburello curve. Williams has repeatedly refused to comment about the possibility of his facing charges.

Ratzenberger died during practice, 24 hours earlier, but it has already been stated that his accident was a consequence of his own mistake. Even so, officials of his team may have to answer charges because the car did not withstand the impact.

The drivers' deaths were the first in a Formula One race meeting for 12 years and the death of Senna, in particular, stunned the sport.

Ever since that traumatic weekend Formula One leaders have waged a campaign for improved safety standards. New regulations have reduced cornering speeds and improved protection for drivers, and alterations have been made to circuits including Imola.

Only this week, Max Mosley, president of FIA, motorsport's governing body, revealed aviation-type black-boxes would be fitted to cars to give experts more data about accidents.