THE TRACKS
Italians have petrol running in their veins, of course they’d have the best circuits too
IMOLA
LENGTH: 3.60 miles CORNERS: 11
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
Tragically, nothing else that has happened at Imola can overshadow the fact that Ayrton Senna died here in 1994 .
SCARIEST CORNER:
Tamburello, obviously. The corner that claimed Senna. Before him Berger, Piquet and Patrese all had major shunts there. The corner has been reprofiled but remains a challenge.
QUICK FACT:
Renamed Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari after Il Commendatore’s death in 1988.
CAN I HAVE A GO?:
Yep. Have a look here: autodromoimola.it.
MONZA
LENGTH: 3.05 miles CORNERS: 21
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
The 1960 Grand Prix, the final win for a front-engined F1 car. And of course the car at the front was a Ferrari, the 246 F1.
SCARIEST CORNER:
Parabolica, until the gravel trap on the outside was replaced with tarmac a few years back. Original banking wasn’t for the faint hearted either.
QUICK FACT:
After Brooklands and Indianapolis, the world’s third purposebuilt racetrack.
CAN I HAVE A GO?:
Yep. Have a look here: monzanet.it.
PESCARA
LENGTH: 16.03 miles CORNERS: c.38
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
A temporary road course, Pescara only ever hosted F1 once, in 1957. Stirling Moss won in a Vanwall at an average of over 98mph.
SCARIEST CORNER:
The whole southern section from Pescara to Capelle. The rest of the triangle was made up of straights.
QUICK FACT:
So concerned was Enzo about safety at Pescara, he refused to send his cars for the GP. Pity, 200,000 spectators had turned up to see them.
CAN I HAVE A GO?:
Any time you like – it’s all public roads.
NARDÒ
LENGTH: 7.80 miles CORNERS: 1
MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT:
5 May 1979, when the Mercedes C111-IV development car broke 400kph, cementing Nardò’s rep as the high speed test centre.
SCARIEST CORNER:
There’s only one, it’s banked and has a 149mph hands-off speed. Above that you have to start steering.
QUICK FACT:
Veyron development driver Loris Bicocchi was invoiced for 1.8km of guardrail after a 247mph blowout. Bugatti picked up the tab.
CAN I HAVE A GO?:
Not a chance. Top secret development cars only.
FIORANO
LENGTH: 1.86 miles CORNERS: 14
MOST ICONIC MOMENT:
The latest 986bhp SF90 laps Fiorano in 1min 19secs – 10.6secs faster than the F40, but around 23secs slower than Schumi’s 2004 F1 car.
SCARIEST POINT:
Either turn 7 (unsighted entry over crest, easy to outbrake yourself) or 11 (bloody quick, hold on tight and hope).
QUICK FACT:
Enzo’s house actually overlooked the circuit and he could often be found on his back porch watching the F1 cars test.
CAN I HAVE A GO?:
Nope, not unless your name happens to be C Leclerc or S Vettel.