Tony Dodgins

Tony Dodgins is one of the world’s leading F1 journalists and attends every grand prix, reporting for a wide range of media worldwide. A passionate fan of Senna, he has fulfilled a long-time ambition by writing this book to mark the 20th anniversary of Ayrton’s death.

Before retreating behind a typewriter, Tony had ambitions to race himself and actually took his first shaky steps in Formula Ford 1600 in 1981, the same year that Senna arrived from Brazil to race in this category in the UK. Although his own money and talent ran out, Tony knew that he was witnessing someone very special.

A geordie, Tony undertook a 500-mile round trip to Thruxton to watch the climax of Senna’s sensational Formula 3 season in 1983 and, two years later, joined the staff of the UK’s weekly motorsport bible, Autosport.

Having turned freelance, Tony has covered almost every grand prix since 1992 and was at Imola on that black May afternoon that claimed perhaps the greatest driver who ever lived.

Tony has been Grand Prix reporter for Autosport, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, for which he still writes today. He has also contributed to several national newspapers and written for leading motorsport titles in the USA and Japan. He also writes for and edits the prestigious Autocourse Formula 1 annual.

He is part of BBC TV’s coverage, assisting Ben Edwards and David Coulthard in the Formula 1 commentary box.

A popular and respected figure in the F1 paddock, Tony knows many of the participants in Senna’s story and has conducted many illuminating interviews to provide this book with numerous fresh insights and perspectives. He lives in Southport, Lancashire, with his wife and two young daughters.