The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, an “old school” circuit rich in history
Formula 1 is (finally) coming to Europe this week, with a first stop in Italy for the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. Hostilities will take place on the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, also known as the Imola circuit, a track with a rich and tragic history.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix is a relatively recent Formula 1 race, but it takes place on a historic and iconic circuit. Contested for the first time in 2020, this event was added to the calendar in response to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, it has found its place and is scheduled at least until 2025.
The circuit hosting this Grand Prix is the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, more commonly known as Imola Circuit. Located in Emilia-Romagna, near Bologna, this track is especially famous for having hosted the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006. The circuit first hosted a non-championship F1 race in 1963, but it wasn’t until negotiations with Monza in 1980 that the circuit was honored to host the Italian Grand Prix for the first time that year. From 1981, the two circuits worked together in perfect harmony, with Imola adopting the famous title of “San Marino Grand Prix,” and hosting a total of 27 Grand Prix until 2006.
But this circuit was also the scene of tragic moments, notably in 1994 when the drivers Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna lost their lives, which led to significant changes to the layout to improve safety. This year marks the 30th anniversary of these accidents that changed the face of Formula 1.
The Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix since 2020.
The track is renowned for its technicality and its “old school” character. It measures 4.909 km long and includes 19 turns, with a particular characteristic: the race takes place counterclockwise, which is quite rare in Formula 1. Drivers complete 69 laps, for a total length of 309.049 kilometers during a race.
Note that the region’s often unpredictable weather conditions also make this weekend attractive… Although the extreme rains of 2023 caused significant flooding, leading to the cancellation of the Grand Prix.
Since its return under the banner of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, Imola has seen memorable races. In 2020, Lewis Hamilton won the first edition, while Max Verstappen triumphed in 2021 and 2022. The circuit is known for its difficulty, especially due to its narrowness and numerous kerbs, which require extreme precision from the drivers.
As for the records , the pole position record is held by Valtteri Bottas with a time of 1:13.609 set in 2020. The best lap in the race is 1:15.484, also set in 2020 by Lewis Hamilton.
