The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola hosts a race of the FIA World Endurance Championship for the first time.
The track, inaugurated in 1953, is characterized by frequent changes in slope and a very technical layout and includes some curves whose name is famous throughout the world such as the “Tosa”, the “Acque Minerali” and the “Rivazza”. .
The facility is known throughout the world, in particular, for having hosted a total of 30 Formula 1 Grand Prix. In detail, the Imola track hosted an edition of the Italian GP (1980), 26 of the San Marino GP ( 1981-2006), one of the Emilia-Romagna GP (2020) and two Formula 1 GPs of Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna (2021-22).
Action on the track
Photo by: Ferrari
The Prancing Horse soon took part in all the events mentioned: in Imola the Scuderia Ferrari collected eight victories, six pole positions, ten fastest laps and 24 podiums in total (in the classic F1 race format).
The roll of honor also includes a podium obtained in 2022 by Charles Leclerc who finished in second position in the Sprint Race.
The history of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari – so named since 1988, following the death of the founder of the Maranello-based company – also includes some notable precedents in endurance racing.
In fact, over the decades the facility has hosted several endurance races. Among these, the Imola 500 Kilometers stands out, which in 1972 saw a Ferrari double with the 312 PB: Arturo Merzario won the race, valid for the Italian Sports Championship which was contested in two heats plus the final, ahead of Jacky Ickx.
Arturo Merzario, Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
Over the 1000 kilometer distance, however, in 1984 the track hosted a race valid for the World Sports Prototype Championship.
In more recent years the Imola facility hosted a 6-hour race included in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup calendar (2011), which in the LMGTE Pro class saw the success of Giancarlo Fisichella and Gianmaria Bruni with the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 by AF Corse.
Imola was included in the European Le Mans Series calendar from 2013 to 2016 and in 2022, a championship that returns to the spotlight again this year.
The 2024 season coincides with the debut of the FIA WEC of the facility – the track measures 4.909 kilometers and includes 21 corners – dedicated to Enzo and Dino Ferrari where, on the occasion of the 2022 Ferrari World Finals, the 499P was presented to the world which would debut in race in the following year.
Arturo Merzario, Ferrari
Photo by: Ferrari
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