Imola Circuit

Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari
EnzoEDinoFerrariImolaLogo.png
Imola 2009.svg
Configuration for FIA sanctioned events

Imola 2009 moto.svg

Configuration for FIM sanctioned events
LocationImola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Time zoneCET (UTC+1)
CEST (DST)
Coordinates44°20′28″N 11°42′48″E / 44.34111°N 11.71333°E / 44.34111; 11.71333Coordinates: 44°20′28″N 11°42′48″E / 44.34111°N 11.71333°E / 44.34111; 11.71333
Capacity78,000
FIA Grade1
Broke ground22 March 1950; 72 years ago (1950-03-22)
Opened25 April 1953; 69 years ago (1953-04-25)
ArchitectJarno Zaffelli [it]
Former namesAutodromo Dino Ferrari (1970–1988)
Autodromo di Castellaccis (1953–1970)
Major events
Current:
Former:
Grand Prix Circuit (2008–present)
Length4.909 km (3.050 miles)
Turns19
Race lap record1:15.484 (United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W11, 2020, Formula One)
Motorcycle Circuit (2009–present)
Length4.936 km (3.068 miles)
Turns20
Race lap record1:45.727 (United Kingdom Chaz Davies, Ducati Panigale V4 R, 2019, World SBK)
Grand Prix Circuit (1995–2006)
Length4.959 km (3.081 miles)
Turns22
Race lap record1:20.411 (Germany Michael Schumacher, Ferrari F2004, 2004, Formula One)
Grand Prix Circuit (1980–1994)
Length5.040 km (3.132 miles)
Turns22
Race lap record1:24.335 (United Kingdom Damon Hill, Williams FW16, 1994, Formula One)
Grand Prix Circuit (1973–1979)
Length5.060 km (3.144 miles)
Turns20
Race lap record1:33.610 (Canada Gilles Villeneuve, Ferrari 312T4, 1979, Formula One)
Original Grand Prix Circuit (1953–1972)
Length5.018 km (3.118 miles)
Turns12
Race lap record1:27.700 (Austria Helmut Marko, BRM P167, 1972, Group 7)
Websitewww.autodromoimola.it

The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, better known as Imola, is a 4.909 km (3.050 mi) motor racing circuit in the town of Imola, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, 40 km (25 mi) east of Bologna. It is one of the few major international circuits to run in an anti-clockwise direction. The circuit is named after Ferrari's late founder, Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988), and his son, Alfredo "Dino" Ferrari (1932–1956). Before Enzo's death, it was called Autodromo Dino Ferrari. The circuit has an FIA Grade One licence.

Imola was the venue for the San Marino Grand Prix between 1981 and 2006. During this period, two Grands Prix were held in Italy every year, with the Italian Grand Prix taking place at Monza, so the Imola race was named after the nearby state. Imola also hosted the 1980 Italian Grand Prix in place of Monza. When Formula One visits Imola, it is seen as the home circuit of Scuderia Ferrari, and masses of supporters come out to support the local team.

The venue returned to the Formula One calendar during the 2020 season to help the sport fill calendar gaps caused by cancellations of other races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the race at the circuit being named the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in honour of the region where the circuit is located. This also meant the venue hosted a World Championship race under a third different name having hosted the 1980 Italian Grand Prix and the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006. In March 2022 Liberty Media signed a contract with the circuit to make it a permanent entry on the main calendar until at least 2025.

History

Original layout of the Imola Circuit with no chicanes (1953–1972)

The track was originally called the Autodromo di Castellaccis, and inaugurated as a semi-permanent venue in 1953. It had no chicanes, so the runs from Acque Minerali to Rivazza, and from Rivazza all the way to Tosa, through the pits and the Tamburello, were just straights with a few small bends; the circuit remained in this configuration until 1972.

In April 1953, the first motorcycle races took place, while the first car race took place in June 1954. In April 1963, the circuit hosted its first Formula One race, as a non-championship event, won by Jim Clark for Lotus. A further non-championship event took place at Imola in 1979, which was won by Niki Lauda for Brabham-Alfa Romeo.

In 1980 Imola officially debuted in the Formula One World Championship calendar by hosting the 1980 Italian Grand Prix. It was the first time since the 1948 Edition held at Parco del Valentino that the Autodromo Nazionale Monza did not host the Italian Grand Prix. The race was won by Nelson Piquet and it was such a success that a new race, the San Marino Grand Prix, was established especially for Imola in 1981 and remained on the calendar until 2006. The race was held over 60 laps of the 5.040 km (3.132 mi) circuit for a total race distance of 300 kilometres.

Imola has hosted a round of the Superbike World Championship from 2001 to 2006 and later since 2009. It hosts the final round of the FIM Motocross World Championship since 2018.

The World Touring Car Championship visited Imola in 2005 for the Race of San Marino, in 2008 for the Race of Europe, and in 2009 for the Race of Italy. The venue hosted a round of the International GT Open from 2009 to 2011 and also in 2021. The TCR International Series raced at Imola in 2016.

The 6 Hours of Imola was revived in 2011 and added to the Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup as a season event until 2016, but it returned again to European Le Mans Series calendar again in 2022 as 4 Hours of Imola. It also hosted the 12 Hours of Imola in 2017-2018, a round of the 24H Series.

The track was also used as part of the finishing circuit for the 1968 UCI Road World Championships, which saw Italian cyclist Vittorio Adorni winning with a lead of 10 minutes and 10 seconds over runner up Herman Van Springel, the second largest winning margin in the history of the championships, after Georges Ronsse's victory in 1928. In addition Adorni's countryman Michele Dancelli took the bronze and five of the top six finishers were Italian. The circuit was used for stage 11 of the 2015 Giro d'Italia, which was won by Ilnur Zakarin, and stage 12 of the 2018 Giro d'Italia, won by Sam Bennett. The circuit also served as the start and finish of the 2020 UCI Road World Championships on 27 September 2020.

Tamburello

Despite the addition of chicanes to several parts of the lap, such as the Acque Minerali, Variante Alta, and Variante Bassa, the circuit was subject to constant safety concerns, mostly regarding the flat-out Tamburello corner, which was very bumpy and had dangerously little room between the track and a concrete wall without a tyre barrier that separated the circuit from the Santerno river that runs adjacent to it.

In 1987, Nelson Piquet crashed heavily during practice after a tyre failure and missed the race due to injury. In 1989, Gerhard Berger crashed his Ferrari at Tamburello after a front wing failure. The car instantaneously ignited after the severe impact at 300 km/h (190 mph) but thanks to the quick work of the firefighters and medical personnel Berger survived and missed only one race (the 1989 Monaco Grand Prix) due to burns to his hands. Michele Alboreto suffered a massive shunt whilst testing his Footwork Arrows at the circuit in 1991 but escaped injury. The following year, Riccardo Patrese also crashed at the same corner while testing for the Williams team.

In response to the deaths of Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger during the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, modifications were carried out to the Tamburello corner to make it safer by converting it from a flat-out left hander to a left-right-left chicane.

1994 San Marino Grand Prix

The circuit's layout at the time of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.
The circuit layout changed after 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, used between 1995–2006

In the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, during Friday practice Rubens Barrichello was launched over a kerb and into the top of a tyre barrier at the Variante Bassa, knocking the Brazilian unconscious, though quick medical intervention saved his life. During Saturday qualifying Austrian Roland Ratzenberger crashed head-on into a wall at over 310 km/h (190 mph) at the Villeneuve corner after his Simtek lost the front wing, dying instantly from a basilar skull fracture. The tragedy continued the next day, when the three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna lost control of his car and crashed into the concrete wall at the Tamburello corner on Lap 7. Senna died in hospital several hours after his accident. In two unrelated incidents, several spectators and mechanics were also injured during the event.

In the aftermath, the circuit continued to host Grands Prix, but revisions were immediately made in an attempt to make it safer. The flat-out Tamburello corner was reduced to a 4th gear left–right sweeper, and a gravel trap was added to the limited space on the outside of the corner. Villeneuve corner, previously an innocuous 6th gear right-hander into Tosa, was made a complementary 4th gear sweeper, also with a gravel trap on the outside of the corner. In an attempt to retain some of the quickness and character of the old circuit, the arduous chicane at Acqua Minerali was eliminated, and the Variante Bassa was straightened into a single chicane. Many say that the new circuit configuration is not as good as it used to be as a result of the new chicanes at Tamburello and Villeneuve.

Another modification made to the Imola track is that of Variante Alta, which is situated at the top of the hill leading down to Rivazza and has the hardest braking point on the lap. The Variante Alta, formerly a high-kerbed chicane, was hit quite hard by the drivers which caused damage to the cars and occasionally was the site of quite a few accidents. Before the 2006 Grand Prix, the kerbs were lowered considerably and the turn itself was tightened to reduce speeds and hopefully reduce the number of accidents at the chicane.

The old pitlane, June 2006.

The Grand Prix was removed from the calendar of the 2007 Formula One season. SAGIS, the company that owns the circuit, hoped that the race would be reinstated at the October 2006 meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council and scheduled for the weekend of 29 April 2007, provided renovations to the circuit were completed in time for the race, but the reinstatement was denied.

Recent developments

Imola during reconstruction, March 2007.

Since 2007, the circuit has undergone major revisions. A bypass to the Variante Bassa chicane was added for cars, making the run from Rivazza 2 to the first Tamburello chicane totally flat-out, much like the circuit in its original fast-flowing days. However, the chicane is still used for motorcycle races.

The new pitbox and start/finish straight, April 2008.

The old pit garages and paddock have been demolished and completely rebuilt while the pitlane was extended and resurfaced. The reconstruction was overseen by German F1 track architect Hermann Tilke.

In June 2008, with most of the reconstruction work completed, The FIA gave the track a "1T" rating, meaning that an official Formula One Test can be held at the circuit; circuits require the "1" homologation to host a Formula One Grand Prix. As of August 2011, the track received a '1' FIA homologation rating after an inspection by Charlie Whiting.

In June 2015, the owners of the circuit confirmed they were in talks to return to the Formula One calendar should Monza, whose contract was scheduled to run out after the 2016 season, be unable to make a new deal to keep hosting a round of the world championship. On 18 July 2016, Imola signed a deal to host the Italian Grand Prix from the 2017 season. However, on 2 September 2016, it was announced that Monza had secured a new deal to continue in hosting the race, and Imola's officials took legal action against this decision questioning the legality of government funding awarded to Monza. On 8 November 2016, they withdrew their case. In February 2020, the owners at Imola submitted a bid to replace the 2020 Chinese Grand Prix pending its cancellation as a precaution in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 24 July 2020, it was confirmed that the circuit would be added to the calendar for the 2020 Formula One World Championship with the race being called the "Emilia Romagna Grand Prix" in honour of the region the circuit is situated in. In a break with Formula One tradition the event at the circuit took place over two days instead of three on 31 October and 1 November 2020. Imola was kept on the calendar for 2021, following the postponement of the Chinese Grand Prix due to the ongoing pandemic, and later for the 2022 calendar as well. Imola is due to host a F1 Grand Prix until 2025.

The circuit's president is Giancarlo Minardi of the former Minardi F1 team.

Events

Current
Former

Fatal accidents

Lap records

The official lap record for the current Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:15.484, set by Lewis Hamilton during the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, while the unofficial all-time track record is 1:13.609, set by Valtteri Bottas in the qualifying of aforementioned race. The official race lap records at the Imola Circuit are listed as:

Emilia Romagna Grand Prix-2020.png
Category Time Driver Vehicle Event Circuit Map
Grand Prix Circuit: 4.909 km (2008–present)
F1 1:15.484 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes-AMG F1 W11 EQ Performance 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix Imola 2009.svg
GP2 Asia 1:28.097 Romain Grosjean Dallara GP2/11 2011 Imola GP2 Asia Series round
FIA F2 1:28.353 Jehan Daruvala Dallara F2 2018 2022 Imola Formula 2 round
Auto GP 1:32.189 Kimiya Sato Lola B05/52 2014 Imola Auto GP round
LMP1 1:33.112 Sébastien Bourdais Peugeot 908 2011 6 Hours of Imola
FIA F3 1:33.129 Roman Staněk Dallara F3 2019 2022 Imola Formula 3 round
LMP2 1:33.702 Lorenzo Colombo Oreca 07 2022 4 Hours of Imola
Euroformula Open 1:35.273 Jak Crawford Dallara 320 2021 Imola Euroformula Open round
LMP3 1:38.235 Laurents Hörr Duqueine M30 - D08 2022 Imola Le Mans Cup round
FTwo (2009–2012) 1:38.576 Robert Wickens Williams JPH1 2009 Imola Formula Two round
FREC 1:38.769 Hadrien David Tatuus F.3 T-318 2021 Imola FREC round
International Formula Master 1:39.946 Fabio Leimer Tatuus N.T07 2009 Imola Formula Master round
GT3 1:40.375 Nicki Thiim Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 2022 Imola GT World Challenge Europe round
Formula Renault 2.0 1:40.686 Franco Colapinto Tatuus FR-19 2020 2nd Imola Formula Renault Eurocup round
LM GTE 1:41.024 Matthew Griffin Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 2014 4 Hours of Imola
Ferrari Challenge 1:43.468 Eliseo Donno Ferrari 488 Challenge Evo 2022 Imola Ferrari Challenge Europe round
SRO GT2 1:43.486 Anders Fjordbach Brabham BT63 GT2 Concept 2022 Imola GT2 European Series round
Carrera Cup 1:44.241 Benedetto Strignano Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup 2021 Imola Porsche Carrera Cup Italia round
Formula 4 1:44.349 Dino Beganovic Tatuus F4-T014 2020 2nd Imola Italian F4 round
LMPC 1:44.443 Kyle Marcelli Oreca FLM09 2011 6 Hours of Imola
JS P4 1:47.027 Dimitri Enjalbert Ligier JS P4 2022 Imola Ligier European Series round
GT4 1:49.524 Tom Canning Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 2022 Imola GT4 European Series round
TCR Touring Car 1:51.647 Mikel Azcona CUPRA Leon Competición TCR 2021 1st Imola TCR Italy round
JS2 R 1:53.793 David Caussanel Ligier JS2 R 2022 Imola Ligier European Series round
ETC 1:53.801 Petr Fulín SEAT León Cup Racer 2016 Imola ETC round
WTCC 1:55.388 James Thompson Honda Accord Euro R 2008 FIA WTCC Race of Europe
Motorcycle Circuit: 4.936 km (2009–present)
World SBK 1:45.727 Chaz Davies Ducati Panigale V4 R 2019 Imola World SBK round Imola 2009 moto.svg
World SSP 1:51.101 Jules Cluzel MV Agusta F3 675 2015 Imola World SSP round
Supersport 300 2:08.200 María Herrera Yamaha YZF-R3 2018 Imola Supersport 300 round
Modified Layout: 4.959 km (1995–2006)
F1 1:20.411 Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2004 2004 San Marino Grand Prix Imola.svg
GP2 1:33.871 Nicolas Lapierre Dallara GP2/05 2005 Imola GP2 Series round
F3000 1:38.936 Giorgio Pantano Lola B02/50 2002 Imola F3000 round
Euroseries 3000 1:40.909 Giacomo Ricci Lola B02/50 2006 Imola Euroseries 3000 round
F3 1:47.137 Valerio Scassellati Dallara F399 2000 Imola Italian F3 round
GT1 (GTS) 1:47.399 Uwe Alzen Saleen S7-R 2004 FIA GT Imola 500 km
World SBK 1:48.389 Troy Bayliss Ducati 998 F02 2002 Imola World SBK round
500cc 1:49.436 Mick Doohan Honda NSR500 1997 City of Imola motorcycle Grand Prix
Formula Renault 2.0 1:50.679 Pascal Kochem Tatuus FR2000 2004 Imola Formula Renault Eurocup round
250cc 1:51.872 Tetsuya Harada Aprilia RSV 250 1997 City of Imola motorcycle Grand Prix
N-GT 1:52.425 Lucas Luhr Porsche 911 (996) GT3-RSR 2004 FIA GT Imola 500 km
World SSP 1:53.122 Kevin Curtain Yamaha YZF-R6 2003 Imola World SSP round
Super Touring 1:55.737 Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1999 Imola Italian Superturismo round
Carrera Cup 1:56.928 Richard Westbrook Porsche 911 (997) GT3 Cup 2005 Imola Porsche Supercup round
125cc 1:58.490 Valentino Rossi Aprilia RS125R 1997 City of Imola motorcycle Grand Prix
Super 2000 1:59.756 Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 156 GTA Super 2000 2004 Imola ETCC round
Grand Prix Circuit with Chicanes: 5.040 km (1980–1994)
F1 1:24.335 Damon Hill Williams FW16 1994 San Marino Grand Prix Imola Circuit 1980-1995 Layout.png
Group C 1:37.840 Pierluigi Martini Lancia LC2 1984 1000 km of Imola
F3000 1:38.290 Gabriele Tarquini March 87B 1987 Imola F3000 round
F3 1:45.429 Luca Badoer Dallara F391 1991 Imola Italian F3 round
Group A 1:51.799 Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 GTA 1992 Imola Italian Superturismo round
500cc 1:53.360 Kenny Roberts Yamaha YZR500 1983 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix
BMW M1 Procar 1:54.768 Nelson Piquet BMW M1 Procar 1980 Imola BMW M1 Procar round
Super Touring 1:58.079 Fabrizio Giovanardi Peugeot 405 Mi16 1993 Imola Italian Superturismo round
250cc 2:03.130 Anton Mang Kawasaki KR250 1981 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc 2:06.030 Angel Nieto Garelli 125 GP 1983 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix
50cc 2:21.420 Ricardo Tormo Morbidelli 50 1983 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix
Original Grand Prix Circuit with Chicanes: 5.060 km (1973–1979)
F1 1:33.610 Gilles Villeneuve Ferrari 312 T4 1979 Dino Ferrari Grand Prix Imola 1980.jpg
Group 7 1:34.900 George Follmer Porsche 917/10 TC 1973 Coppa Orro di Shell Imola
Group 5 1:40.800 Jean-Pierre Jarier Matra-Simca MS670 1974 1000 km of Imola
Group 6 1:42.300 Jean-Pierre Jarier Renault Alpine A442 1976 500 km of Imola
F3 1:47.800 Michele Alboreto March 793 1979 Imola Italian F3 round
500cc 1:56.000 Kenny Roberts Yamaha YZR500 1979 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
350cc 1:59.300 Kork Ballington Kawasaki KR350 1979 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
250cc 2:01.400 Kork Ballington Kawasaki KR250 1979 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
125cc 2:08.500 Thierry Espié Motobécane 125 1979 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
50cc 2:24.500 Eugenio Lazzarini Kreidler 50 GP 1979 Nations motorcycle Grand Prix
Original Grand Prix Circuit without Chicanes: 5.017 km (1953–1972)
Group 7 1:27.700 Helmut Marko BRM P167 1972 Imola Interserie round Imola53.png
F2 1:31.900 Peter Gethin Chevron B20 1972 Imola F2 round
Group 6 1:36.900 Jacky Ickx Mirage M3/300 1969 500 km of Imola
Group 4 1:41.700 Frank Gardner Lola T70 Mk IIIB GT 1969 500 km of Imola
F3 1:42.300 Sandro Cinotti Brabham BT35C 1972 1st Imola Italian F3 round
F1 1:48.300 Trevor Taylor Lotus 25 1963 Imola Grand Prix
Group 3 2:04.100 Herbert Demetz Abarth Simca 1300 GT 1965 Gran Premio Shell Coppa Bologna

Non-motorsport events

Since 1981, the circuit has been hosting the early-September Mostra Scambio ("Trading Exposition"), an open-air market primarily focused on the exhibition and trade of vintage vehicles and their parts; this event is also popularly (but inaccurately) called CRAME, after the name of the historical society organizing it. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19.

Among the major musical performances held on the track were:

Partially due to the vicinity of the Romeo Galli athletics stadium, the Acque Minerali park, and the Tre Monti hills, the Autodromo is not commonly used for bicycle or on-foot sporting activities (albeit with notable exceptions, such as two segments of the Giro d'Italia in the 2010s, and 2020 UCI Road World Championships); however, the civic administration does occasionally allocate summer days in which the public can walk or cycle along the track.[failed verification]


This page was last updated at 2022-11-21 07:13 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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