Aerial view of the Imola circuit
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Location | Imola, Emilia-Romagna, Italy |
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Time zone | GMT +1 |
Coordinates | 44°20′28″N 11°42′48″E / 44.34111°N 11.71333°ECoordinates: 44°20′28″N 11°42′48″E / 44.34111°N 11.71333°E |
Major events | SBK, WTCC, Le Mans Series |
Current circuit (2007–present) | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 4.909 km (3.050 mi) |
Turns | 17 |
Lap record | 1:23.49 (Ingo Gerstl, Top Speed, 2016, EuroBOSS) |
Previous layout (1995–2006) | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 4.959 km (3.132 mi) |
Turns | 17 |
Lap record | 1:20.411 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004, Formula One) |
Second layout (1973–1994) | |
Surface | Asphalt |
Length | 4.933 km (3.065 mi) |
Turns | 23 |
Lap record | 1:24.335 (Damon Hill, Williams-Renault, 1994, Formula One) |
Website | www |
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) east of Bologna and 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello. The circuit is named after Ferrari's late founder Enzo and his son Dino who had died in the 1950s. Before Enzo Ferrari's death in 1988 it was called 'Autodromo Dino Ferrari'. The circuit has FIA Grade 1 license.
It was the venue for the Formula One San Marino Grand Prix (for many years two Grands Prix were held in Italy every year, so the race held at Imola was named after the nearby state) and it also hosted the 1980 edition of the Italian Grand Prix, which usually takes place in Monza. When Formula One visits Imola, it is seen as the 'home circuit' of Ferrari and masses of tifosi (Ferrari supporters) come out to support the local team.
Imola, as it is colloquially known, is one of the few major international circuits to run in an anti-clockwise direction. (Istanbul Park, Korea International Circuit, Marina Bay Street Circuit, Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Circuit of the Americas, and the Yas Marina Circuit are other anti-clockwise circuits used recently by Formula One.)
The track was inaugurated as a semi-permanent venue in 1953, and it had no chicanes, so the run from Rivazza all the way to Tosa, through the pits and the Tamburello was totally flat out, as was the run from Acque Minerali all the way to Rivazza was just a long straight with a few small bends; and the circuit remained in this configuration until 1972.