Nestled in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, 25 miles east of Bologna, lies the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, otherwise known as the Imola Circuit. Stretching over 4.9 kilometres, it stands out among other F1 circuits as it runs in an anti-clockwise direction.
The Imola Circuit’s origins date back to 1953, when it first opened its doors to motorcycle racing, with its inaugural race being held the same year. Originally called the Autodromo di Imola, the track underwent several name changes before officially being named after the founder of Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari and his son Alfredo “Dino” Ferrari. It’s no wonder the Imola Circuit has earned a special place in the hearts of Formula One fans and drivers.
Imola Circuit
| First Grand Prix | 1980 Italian Grand Prix |
| Number of Laps | 63 |
| Circuit Length | 4.909km |
| Race Distance | 309.049 km |
| Lap Record | 1:15.484 Lewis Hamilton (2020) |
Circuit
When was the Imola Circuit built?
Originally known as the Autodromo di Imola, the track was unveiled in 1953 as a semi-permanent circuit. With no chicanes, drivers faced long straights with a few bends from Acque Minerali to Rivazza, then from Rivazza to Tosa through Tamburello and the pits. This layout remained in place until 1972.
As a non-championship event, the circuit held its first Formula One event in April 1963, won by Jim Clark in a Lotus. Niki Lauda won the 1979 non-championship event driving for Brabham-Alfa Romeo.
The 1980 Italian Grand Prix marked Imola’s official debut on the Formula One World Championship calendar, with Nelson Piquet claiming victory. The race covered 60 laps and it was the first time in nearly 30 years that the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza did not host the Italian Grand Prix. The race was so successful that a new event, the San Marino Grand Prix, was created exclusively for Imola starting in 1981 and lasting until 2006.
When was the first Grand Prix?
Imola has a rich history with Formula One racing, hosting non-championship and official championship races for decades.
The Imola Grand Prix saw non-championship Formula One races in 1963, followed by the Dino Ferrari Grand Prix in 1979. The track hosted official championship races for the first time in the 1980 Italian Grand Prix, and the San Marino Grand Prix was held annually between 1981 and 2006.
However, concerns with safety on the circuit were prevalent throughout the 1980s and 1990s, particularly with the Tamburello Corner, which saw numerous accidents, including the tragic death of Ayrton Senna in 1994. In response, chicanes were introduced at various points on the track to decrease cornering speeds.
Despite undergoing major reconstruction work in 2007 and signing a contract for Formula One to return in 2017, legal disputes prevented a return until the circuit was welcomed back to Formula One in 2020. In 2020, the circuit featured the 2020 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix and is considered the home circuit of the Scuderia Ferrari team, based nearby in Maranello.
Imola Circuit lap record
The official lap record for the current F1 Grand Prix circuit layout is 1:15.484, set by Lewis Hamilton during the 2020 Italian Grand Prix driving for Mercedes.
