Following the premiere of the Netflix miniseries “Senna,” Asics has made a special edition of the Gel-Kayano 14 to commemorate Ayrton Senna.
The Ayrton Senna x Asics Gel-Kayano 14 “Lotus” and “McLaren” take after two of the Formula 1 cars driven by the late Brazillian legend. Black and gold dresses the pair inspired by the Lotus 97T and its John Player Special livery. “Seek Your Truth” appears on a lateral overlay beneath the collar, while green, yellow and blue carry over from the Brazilian flag and Senna’s famous helmet to hangtags affixed to the eyestay and the tongue tag.
White and red Marlboro livery from the McLaren MP4/4 then dresses the second Gel-Kayano 14, which features the same Brazilian detailing and the Japanese characters for “Ayrton Senna” replacing the “Seek Your Truth” wordmark.
Senna won three world championship titles and was the record-holder for most pole positions at 65 at the time of his passing. He died during injuries sustained in a crash at the 1994 San Marino Gran Prix, and safety reforms in response to his death helped prevent another fatality from occurring in Formula 1 until 2015.
Japan holds Senna in particularly high regard because of his place in the formation of the McLaren Honda team, which marked the Japanese automaker’s return to the sport following a 15-year hiatus.
“Senna,” a six-episode miniseries following the life of its namesake, premiered November 29. Although critical reviews have been mixed, it’s reached the no. 2 viewership spot in Brazil, where it was produced with an ambitious $170 million budget, and no. 6 worldwide.
The Ayrton Senna x Asics Gel-Kayano 14 “Lotus” and “McLaren” will release December 9 in Brazil before a worldwide launch December 10. Pricing for the sneakers has yet to be announced.
About the Author:
Ian Servantes is a Senior News Editor for Footwear News specializing in sneaker coverage. He’s previously reported on streetwear and sneakers at Input and Highsnobiety after beginning his career on the pop culture beat. He subscribes to the idea that “ball is life” and doesn’t fuss over his kicks getting dirty.
