Located on the banks of the Santerno River in the historic town of Imola, Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is one of the world’s most iconic permanent racing circuits. Since opening in 1953, it has become inseparable from the history of Formula One, endurance racing and Italian automotive engineering.
Unlike purpose-built modern circuits, Imola follows the natural contours of the landscape, creating an undulating anti-clockwise layout where elevation changes, flowing corners and technical braking zones combine into one of motorsport’s greatest driving challenges.
Named in honour of Enzo Ferrari and his son Alfredo ‘Dino’ Ferrari, the circuit lies only a short distance from Maranello, placing it at the very heart of Italy’s Motor Valley.
In Brief
- Imola is one of the few anti-clockwise circuits on the Formula One calendar.
- It is named after Enzo Ferrari and his son Dino Ferrari.
- The circuit hosted the Italian Grand Prix in 1980 before becoming the home of the San Marino Grand Prix.
- The events of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix transformed motorsport safety worldwide.
- Acque Minerali is widely regarded as one of Formula One’s greatest corner complexes.
- Imola lies at the heart of Italy’s renowned Motor Valley.
History
Construction of the circuit began shortly after the Second World War, with the first competitive events taking place in the early 1950s. The original layout utilised public roads before evolving into a permanent facility while preserving its natural flow.
Formula One first visited Imola in 1980 when it temporarily hosted the Italian Grand Prix. From 1981 onwards, the circuit became home to the San Marino Grand Prix, establishing one of the championship’s most demanding venues.
Imola’s history is forever intertwined with the tragic events of the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend. The deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna transformed motorsport forever, leading to the most significant advances in Formula One safety since the sport’s creation.
Following extensive modifications to improve safety, the circuit successfully preserved its essential character while adapting to modern standards.
In 2020, Imola returned to Formula One as host of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, once again proving its enduring place among the world’s greatest circuits.
Circuit Design
The modern Grand Prix circuit measures 4.909 kilometres and remains one of the few anti-clockwise layouts on the Formula One calendar.
Rather than relying on artificial geometry, the circuit follows the natural terrain, producing continuous elevation changes and flowing corner sequences. Fast technical sections such as Acque Minerali and Piratella are linked by heavy braking zones including Tamburello and Rivazza, creating a lap that rewards rhythm, precision and confidence.
Over the decades, several corners—including Tamburello and Villeneuve—were reprofiled into chicanes following the safety improvements introduced after 1994. Despite these changes, Imola retains its unmistakable personality as one of Europe’s most technical and rewarding circuits.
LENGTH
4.909
kilometres
WIDTH
10–15
metres
DIRECTION
CCW
counter-clockwise
TURNS
19
10 left – 9 right
SURFACE
Asphalt
LONGEST STRAIGHT
627
metres
ELEVATION CHANGE
33.8
metres
OPENED
1953
73 years ago
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is defined by its fast, flowing character, significant elevation changes and relatively narrow racing surface. Unlike many modern circuits, Imola runs anti-clockwise and offers little opportunity for competitors to settle into a repetitive rhythm: high-speed direction changes are interrupted by demanding braking zones, while kerbs, gradients and limited margins for error make accurate positioning particularly important.
The opening section builds speed rapidly towards Tamburello and Villeneuve before the circuit descends towards Tosa, where heavy braking and traction become critical. From there, the lap climbs steeply towards Piratella before descending through Acque Minerali, one of Imola’s most technically demanding sections, where changes in gradient affect both braking and vehicle balance. The climb towards Variante Alta again requires aggressive but precise use of the kerbs before the circuit falls towards Rivazza, whose two left-hand corners determine how effectively competitors can accelerate back towards the start-finish straight.
Although names such as Tamburello, Tosa, Acque Minerali and Rivazza have become inseparable from Imola, the circuit’s defining challenge comes from linking fast sections across constantly changing gradients while remaining precise in the slower braking zones. Drivers and riders who combine commitment with disciplined positioning and respect the circuit’s limited margins are generally rewarded most strongly.
| Corner |
|---|
| T1 011° · Right · 40 m |
| C1 · Variante Tamburello |
| T2 065° · Left · 33 m |
| T3 053° · Right · 42 m |
| T4 042° · Left · 43 m |
| C2 · Variante Villeneuve |
| T5 037° · Left · 33 m |
| T6 065° · Right · 36 m |
| T7 · Tosa 148° · Left · 90 m |
| T8 018° · Right · 116 m |
| T9 · Piratella 075° · Left · 72 m |
| T10 038° · Left · 124 m |
| C3 · Acque Minerali |
| T11 046° · Right · 30 m |
| T12 080° · Right · 28 m |
| T13 024° · Left · 27 m |
| C4 · Variante Alta |
| T14 071° · Right · 12 m |
| T15 093° · Left · 22 m |
| T16 021° · Right · 71 m |
| C5 · Rivazza |
| T17 090° · Left · 41 m |
| T18 087° · Left · 59 m |
| T19 020° · Right · 104 m |
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari occupies a particularly important position in Italian and international motorsport. Opened in 1953, the circuit developed within Emilia-Romagna, one of the world’s most concentrated centres of automotive and motorcycle engineering, placing Imola within the same wider region associated with manufacturers including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Ducati.
Its international identity is most closely connected with Formula One. Imola hosted the Italian Grand Prix in 1980 before becoming the home of the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006, allowing Italy to host a second Formula One race alongside Monza. The circuit returned to the championship in 2020 under the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix name, reconnecting contemporary Formula One with one of its most recognisable European venues.
Imola also carries one of motorsport’s most profound historical associations. During the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix weekend, Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna lost their lives in separate accidents. The consequences extended far beyond the circuit: their deaths became a major catalyst for renewed attention to Formula One circuit design, vehicle safety and driver protection. Imola therefore occupies an important and sombre place in the evolution of modern motorsport safety.
Beyond Formula One, the circuit has hosted World Superbike competition, motorcycle Grand Prix racing, endurance racing, touring cars, GT championships and numerous Italian and European categories. Its location within Italy’s Motor Valley also gives it a broader engineering significance, connecting international competition with a region where racing, vehicle development and manufacturing have been closely intertwined for generations.
Imola’s significance consequently extends beyond any single championship. It connects Italian engineering culture, Formula One history, motorcycle racing and the evolution of motorsport safety within one exceptionally evocative venue. Together with Monza and Mugello, it forms part of Italy’s internationally recognised circuit heritage, while its demanding natural-terrain layout preserves a character increasingly uncommon among modern Grand Prix circuits.
Visitor Experience
Visiting Imola is both a motorsport pilgrimage and a journey through Italian automotive history.
The circuit remains integrated into the public park surrounding the city, allowing visitors to walk many of its legendary corners throughout the year. Memorials dedicated to Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger have become places of quiet reflection for racing fans from around the world.
Beyond the circuit, visitors can explore the historic centre of Imola, the Rocca Sforzesca and the wider Motor Valley, where many of Italy’s greatest manufacturers and museums are located within a short drive.
Climate
| Month | High °C | Low °C | Rainfall mm | Rainy days | Daylight h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 1° | 53 | 8 | 9.3 |
| February | 10° | 1° | 73 | 9 | 10.5 |
| March | 14° | 4° | 70 | 9 | 12.0 |
| April | 18° | 8° | 86 | 12 | 13.5 |
| May | 22° | 12° | 81 | 11 | 14.8 |
| June | 27° | 16° | 69 | 9 | 15.5 |
| July | 30° | 19° | 58 | 7 | 15.1 |
| August | 30° | 19° | 65 | 9 | 14.0 |
| September | 24° | 15° | 76 | 9 | 12.5 |
| October | 19° | 11° | 85 | 10 | 11.0 |
| November | 13° | 6° | 98 | 11 | 9.6 |
| December | 9° | 2° | 78 | 10 | 8.9 |
Monthly averages for Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Circuit, 1991–2020.
Generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026 (CC BY 4.0).
Neither the European Commission nor ECMWF is responsible for any use that may be made of the Copernicus information or data it contains.
Location
Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is located in Imola, approximately 40 kilometres south-east of Bologna.
Positioned within the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley, the circuit enjoys excellent motorway and rail connections while sitting close to many of the world’s most celebrated automotive manufacturers.
Address
Piazza Ayrton Senna da Silva 1
40026 Imola
Città Metropolitana di Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Italy
Website