Ayrton Senna had plans to “do something big” for Brazil just weeks before he was killed in a horrifying crash 30 years ago, according to the three-time F1 star’s niece Bianca.

McLaren and Williams star Senna had held talks with family members about funding an education programme in Brazil to help children from less fortunate backgrounds.

Discussions to set up a scheme were pencilled in for after the 1994 season in which Senna lost his life at the San Marino Grand Prix. 

To millions, Senna is regarded as one of F1’s greatest drivers with three world titles and 91 race wins.

However, speaking to Express.co.uk, Senna’s niece Bianca Lalli admits helping the next generation was just as important to the champion as his success on the track.

She said: “Few people knew Ayrton outside of the racing world and he was a very impacted person. He wanted to make an impact that was bigger than the sport. He understood the chance that he had to be an ambassador for different causes to do things in different ways. That’s when he relayed he wasn’t racing for his fans but racing for Brazil.

“A little bit before the accident he spoke to my mother saying ‘I really want to do something big, I want to do something for the children, I want the children in Brazil to have the same opportunity that I had. If I didn't have school, if I didn't have a good family, if I didn't have the basic resources I wouldn't have become what I became, so I want to do that for the poor children in Brazil.

“They were going to speak about that after the season was over in 1994 but obviously it didn't happen."

However, Senna’s dream was fulfilled with his sister Vivianne taking up the baton to establish the Instituto Ayrton Senna. 

The group pledged to “change lives through education” and has organised projects all across Brazil.

Bianca explains that revenue generated through Senna merchandise is redistributed into the institute with students, researchers and teachers securing much-needed funds.

In 30 years, Senna’s institute claims to have helped over 30 million children in Brazil in more than 3,000 states and cities.

Bianca added: “If Ayrton would come back today. He would think this legacy is much more important than what he did in the race track. To be honest I agree. You’re changing lives and there is nothing more important than that."

Senna’s legacy shines brighter than ever in 2024 with a series of tribute events lighting up racetracks around the world.

Most recently, Lewis Hamilton paid tribute to his hero, driving Senna’s McLaren MP4-4 ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The arrival of a new Netflix series launching this week stars Gabriele Leone who shines a spotlight on Senna’s life on and off track.

There’s even a CD with Bulldozer Network partnering with Senna Driven Album project to produce 30 tracks from top artists such as Armin Van Buuren, Alok and MEDUZA.

Bianca explained: “This year has been the biggest year in terms of celebration and the relationship that we have with Formula One since Ayrton died. I think it's because the sport is growing again. 30 years is also a big mark. Drive to Survive reconnected fans to Formula One.

“And Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Sebastian Vettel, they have Ayrtion as their idol in the sport and this makes the new generations want to know more and that makes the interest in Ayrton grow which is really important.

“Being able to see the difference that he is still making in people's lives is incredible to be honest. My understanding is that people see him as an inspiration to go beyond and that message is something that is so strong and you don’t see that very much nowadays. I don’t think if he was here today he would have imagined he would have this importance in so many millions of people around the world.”

Off-track, Senna’s motoring legacy shines just as brightly. The F1 star was famously linked with the Honda NSX programme, testing a prototype of the car in 1989 before being gifted a model in 1991.

He also dabbled in motorbikes, putting his name to a range of branded carbon-fibre bikes through Ducati.

More recently, the collaborations have continued with McLaren designing a purpose-built hypercar named after their former champion in 2018.

Bianca added: “If he didn’t become a racing driver he would definitely be an engineer or something related to cars because that was how his brain worked. The pinnacle in what we have done in the car industry is definitely the McLaren Senna. We have received millions of different projects before that and none of them were what we thought could have his brand, have his name.

“McLaren did an amazing job when they created the McLaren Senna and I think that’s why we decided to partner with them in this car. My brother Bruno was the one testing the car and involved in all the technical development of the car as well.”

Bianca Senna was speaking ahead of the launch of Senna Driven, a project involving Bulldozer, Senna Brands and Universal Music Group