Situated in the heart of Sicily, surrounding the tranquil waters of Lake Pergusa, Autódromo di Pergusa is one of Europe’s most distinctive permanent racing circuits. Unlike virtually every other major circuit, its layout completely encircles a natural lake, creating a spectacular setting where motorsport and nature exist side by side.
Since opening in the late 1950s, Pergusa has hosted international sports car races, touring cars, Formula championships and motorcycle competitions while becoming one of Italy’s most recognisable racing venues. Although international racing has become less frequent in recent decades, the circuit remains an important part of Italian motorsport heritage and one of Sicily’s most celebrated sporting landmarks.
In Brief
- Autódromo di Pergusa is the only major European racing circuit built entirely around a natural lake.
- The circuit opened in 1958 and became Sicily’s first permanent racing venue.
- Pergusa hosted rounds of the World Sportscar Championship and the Coppa Florio.
- The original layout was one of Europe’s fastest permanent circuits before safety chicanes were introduced.
- Numerous legendary manufacturers, including Ferrari, Porsche and Alfa Romeo, competed here during the circuit’s international heyday.
- Lake Pergusa is closely associated with Greek mythology through the legend of Persephone.
History
Autódromo di Pergusa officially opened in 1958, becoming Sicily’s first permanent racing circuit. Constructed around Lake Pergusa near the city of Enna, it quickly attracted national and international attention thanks to its unusual location and exceptionally fast layout.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Pergusa became a regular venue for international sports car racing. The circuit hosted the prestigious Coppa Florio, reviving one of Italy’s oldest motorsport traditions, while also welcoming rounds of the World Sportscar Championship and the European Touring Car Championship. Legendary manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, BMW and Ford all competed at Pergusa during its golden era.
As vehicle performance increased, the original high-speed configuration raised growing safety concerns. During the late twentieth century, a series of artificial chicanes was introduced to reduce average speeds while allowing the circuit to continue hosting national and international competition.
Today, Pergusa remains an important venue for Italian motorsport, track days and driver education while preserving a remarkable chapter of Sicily’s sporting history.
Circuit Design
Autódromo di Pergusa measures approximately 4.95 kilometres and follows an almost continuous loop around Lake Pergusa. The original layout was exceptionally fast, consisting primarily of long straights connected by sweeping corners that rewarded aerodynamic efficiency and engine performance.
Following safety revisions, several chicanes were introduced to interrupt the longest straights and reduce top speeds. While these modifications fundamentally altered the rhythm of the circuit, they enabled Pergusa to remain viable for modern competition.
Despite these changes, the circuit still retains much of its original character. Long-radius corners, high average speeds and panoramic views across the lake continue to distinguish Pergusa from virtually every other circuit in Europe.
LENGTH
4.950
kilometres
WIDTH
11–14
metres
DIRECTION
CW
clockwise
TURNS
17
7 left – 10 right
SURFACE
Asphalt
LONGEST STRAIGHT
730
metres
ELEVATION CHANGE
34
metres
OPENED
1951
75 years ago
Autodromo di Pergusa is unusual among European circuits because its character is shaped almost entirely by the road encircling Lake Pergusa. The layout is predominantly fast and flowing, with long periods of acceleration interrupted by artificial chicanes that provide the circuit’s principal braking zones and control the exceptionally high speeds that would otherwise define much of the lap.
The opening section quickly establishes this rhythm, requiring drivers to build speed before braking precisely for the first major direction changes. Through the middle of the lap, long acceleration zones place increasing importance on straight-line performance, slipstreaming and braking stability, while the chicanes demand accurate placement over kerbs without sacrificing the exit speed needed for the following straights. The closing section continues this contrast between sustained speed and sudden technical interruptions before competitors return to the start-finish straight.
Pergusa therefore rewards a different discipline from more conventional technical circuits. Individual corners are less important than carrying momentum around the lake and managing the transitions from very high speed into the chicanes. Drivers who combine aerodynamic efficiency, confidence under braking and clean exits are best able to exploit the circuit’s distinctive high-speed character.
| # | Corner |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vivalo Left |
| 2 | T2 Right |
| 3 | T3 Right |
| 4 | Piscine Right |
| 5 | T5 Left |
| 6 | T6 Right |
| 7 | Proserpina Right |
| 8 | T8 Left |
| 9 | Pineta Left |
| 10 | T10 Right |
| 11 | Schumacher Left |
| 12 | T12 Right |
| 13 | Curvone Right |
| 14 | Chicane Zagaria Right |
| 15 | T15 Left |
| 16 | T16 Left |
| 17 | T17 Right |
Autodromo di Pergusa occupies a distinctive place in Italian motorsport as one of Sicily’s most important racing venues and one of Europe’s most unusual permanent circuits. Since opening in 1951 around the shores of Lake Pergusa, it has brought major national and international competition to an island geographically distant from the traditional centres of Italian motor racing.
Pergusa became particularly associated with the Coppa Florio, reviving one of the oldest names in international automobile racing, while over the decades it has welcomed Formula Two, Formula 3000, sports cars, touring cars and GT competition. Its fast layout and extensive slipstreaming created a style of racing markedly different from Italy’s more technical circuits, helping establish Pergusa as a recognised destination on the European motorsport calendar.
Beyond individual championships, the circuit’s greatest significance lies in its role as Sicily’s international motorsport stage. Together with the island’s extraordinary road-racing heritage represented by the Targa Florio, Pergusa connects Sicily’s historic passion for competition with permanent circuit racing, providing generations of Sicilian competitors and enthusiasts with a major motorsport venue of their own.
Visitor Experience
Visitors to Pergusa enjoy an experience unlike any other Italian circuit. The tranquil setting beside Lake Pergusa provides a peaceful natural backdrop rarely associated with motor racing, while elevated viewpoints allow spectators to appreciate much of the circuit from multiple locations.
Outside competitive events, the venue hosts driving experiences, motorcycle activities, advanced driver training and local competitions. Visitors can also explore the nearby city of Enna, Sicily’s highest provincial capital, renowned for its medieval architecture and panoramic mountain views.
For motorsport enthusiasts, Pergusa offers an opportunity to experience one of Italy’s most unusual and historically significant circuits while discovering the cultural richness of central Sicily.
Location
Autódromo di Pergusa is located beside Lake Pergusa approximately six kilometres south of Enna. Positioned near the geographical centre of Sicily, the circuit is accessible via the island’s principal motorway network and lies within reasonable driving distance of Catania and Palermo.
Its location within a protected natural landscape gives the circuit an atmosphere unlike any other venue in European motorsport.
Address
Via Mercurio
94100 Pergusa
Libero consorzio comunale di Enna, Sicilia
Italy
Website