About
The Imola circuit, near Bologna, Italy, was host of the Formula 1 San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006. While the death of Ayrton Senna cast a shadow over the circuit in 1994, Imola continues to enjoy a wealth of motorsport activities each year.
Situated near the town of Imola, 40 kilometres east of Bologna, Imola – officially titled Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, in homage to the Ferrari founder and his son – opened as a semi-permanent venue in 1953. At the time, the circuit featured no chicanes, meaning that the track was high speed.
The circuit hosted car and motorcycle races throughout the 1950s. In 1963, it hosted a non-championship Formula 1 race, won by Jim Clark. The configuration was updated to include the Variente Bassa and Variente Alta chicanes in the 1970s. Soon after, and after another non-championship F1 event in 1979, won by Niki Lauda, Imola first hosted a World Championship F1 event for the first time in 1980. Monza was undergoing renovations, so Imola took its place as host of the Italian Grand Prix. The event was a hit, and the circuit remained on the calendar as the San Marino Grand Prix until 2006.
The anti-clockwise circuit has undergone relatively little change since opening in the 1950s. Its biggest re-profiling came as a result of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, in which Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna lost their lives. Senna’s crash at the famous Tamburello turn led to the corner being slowed down. Alongside its F1 duties, Imola also hosted the Superbike World Championship from 2001 to 2006. Both series departed the track for 2007, as the circuit underwent major renovations. In addition to changes to the track layout, the garages and paddock area were rebuilt in a project overseen by Hermann Tilke.
The Superbike World Championship returned to the track in 2009 and remains a popular feature of Imola’s annual schedule. Formula 1 returned to Imola after a 14-year absence amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. It has remained on the calendar since, though the 2023 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was called off due to flooding in the local area. The circuit recently signed a new longer-term contract to remain on the schedule until at least 2025.
In 2024, the World Endurance Championship will join the annual selection of events at Imola for the first time. The 6 Hours of Imola is scheduled to take place in April.
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events at Imola
- April 19-21, 2024: WEC 6 Hours of Imola
- May 17-19, 2024: Formula 1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix 2024
- Check the Imola website for more upcoming events.
How to get there
Located next to the historic town of Imola in northwest Italy, the Imola circuit has good air, road and public transport connections to Europe and beyond.
Flights
The closest airport to the Imola Circuit is Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), less than 50km away, which is a major hub for Ryanair. Alternatively, Federico Fellini International Airport (RMI) in Rimini is 90km away.
Driving
A good network of local motorways and roads make Imola easy to reach – the circuit is 5km from the E45 motorway, which connects Bologna to Rimini on the coast. The city of Modena and the home of Ferrari at Maranello are also on the E45. Estimated driving times to Imola from major regional cities:
- Bologna: 40 minutes (40km)
- Modena: 1 hour 5 minutes (85km)
- Maranello: 1 hour 5 minutes (88km)
- Florence: 1 hour 50 minutes (150km)
- Venice: 2 hours (190km)
- Milan: 2 hours 50 minutes (255km)
- Rome: 4 hours 30 minutes (375km)
Public Transport
Imola is also served by regular train services to major Italian cities. The train station in Imola (Stazione FS di Imola) is a 20-30 minute walk (2.3km) or short taxi ride from the circuit gates. Direct trains from Bologna take around 20 minutes. Trains are also available from Firenze Santa Maria Novella in Florence (1.5 hours) and Milano Centrale (2.5 hours). More information on trenitalia.com.
Where to stay
The historic town of Imola has a limited selection of hotels, apartments and bed and breakfasts for rent, though demand and prices are of course higher on major race weekends.
Recommended places to stay within walking distance of the circuit include Hotel Ziò Imola, Hotel Rivazza and Agriturismo “La Fondazza”. Hotel Castello is also worth mentioning. This four-star hotel in nearby Castel San Pietro Terme (14km from the circuit) where F1 teams used to stay for the Italian Grand Prix – Ayrton Senna stayed in Suite 200 on his last F1 weekend in 1994.
Check all accommodation near Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari
For major race weekends, you will probably need to find accommodation in one of the larger nearby cities. Bologna has the best selection of accommodation and you can get to Imola by train in about 30 minutes. Other cities worth considering include Ravenna and Rimini.
Guided Tours
Guided tours of the Imola circuit are available on select days through the year.
Taking about 75 minutes, the small group tour (maximum 8 people) includes a shuttle bus tour of the circuit with stops at important landmarks such as the Ayrton Senna memorial, paddock, pits, control room and podium. Adult tickets cost €30, reduced tickets for under 16s are €20 (entry free under 6 years of age).
Click here for more information and to book a tour.
Track Days
The circuit is opened for car and motorbike track days through the year and driving experiences are also available.
Most track days and driving experiences are organized by outside companies and organizations, more information below:
- Click here for upcoming car track days
- Puresport offers track days at Imola where you can drive a variety of open-wheel racing cars, including Formula 1!
- RSE Italia offers supercar driving experiences at Imola; one lap from €169
The track is also opened at regular intervals for walking and cycling. More information and dates are here.
Google Map
Circuit Map
Images
