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F1 | GP IMOLA, GIAN CARLO MINARDI “APPROACHING A FULLHOUSE WITH 200,000 PEOPLE. WEEKEND FULL OF EVENTS BOTH ON AND OFF THE TRACK AND WITH A FULL FANZONE, IN THE NAME OF MOTORSPORT”

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We are in the final phase of the organization, certainly a demanding stage, but we can be satisfied with the great work done on all aspects. From the point of view of the attendance, we are close to the record for Imola, almost 200,000. For the Sunday we are approaching a full house, and the days of Friday and Saturday are growing well.

These are two days full of events, on and off the track, as well as on Sunday, starting with qualifying which promises to be very tight. As per tradition, with the arrival in Europe all the teams will introduce important new technical innovations, the result of the data collected in the first grands prix of the season. Imola is the seventh round, the second quarter of the season.

Red Bull and Max Verstappen continue to be the points of reference, but the gap is definitely narrower. At least on paper, total supremacy by the reigning champions is not expected. In Miami we already saw that they can be beaten, as Lando Morris proved with, amongst other things, his first career win.  Ferrari and Mercedes, like all the others, Red Bull included, will introduce important updates. Hopefully they will also be decisive. By putting pressure on the rival, it is easier to lead him into error.

As a track we have introduced some new developments, according to the FIA guidelines, and the new homologation rules that involved, in particular, the kerbs and a smaller escape route at the Tamburello, Rivazza, Gresini and Acque Minerali bends.

Fan Zone already open on Thursday afternoon

In addition to the on-track activity, there will be no lack of entertainment in the Fanzone, already open on Thursday (prologue with free entry from 1.00pm), with 16 simulators, a Ferris wheel, F1 PitStop Challenge, DJ Set, as well as the possibility of meeting the drivers in autographs sessions on the large stage of the Music Area. Furthermore, a lot of historic F1 single seater racing cars on show in the Fanzone and inside the Motor Valley Area set up to promote the motoring excellence in the Emilia-Romagna Region.

 The weekend programme between Formula 1, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriele Minì

The Grand Prix programme foresees two sessions of free practice from 1.30pm to 2.30pm, and from 5.00pm to 6.00pm, on Saturday the third session of free practice from 12.30pm to 3.00pm which will be followed by qualifying from 4.00pm to 5.00pm. On Sunday the race is scheduled to start at 3.00pm. The race will be run over 63 laps of the Imola Circuit (4,909metres) for a total of 309.049km.

In addition to F.1, on the track there will be Formula 2 with a special eye on Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Prema), Formula 3 with Leonardo Fornaroli (currently second on with 37 points equal to Browing) and Gabriele Minì (third with 32 points) fighting for the leadership and Porsche Supercup.

A Circuit easily reached by train

Reaching the Circuit from the station is really easy; only 1,500 metres of protected path, all straight ahead, separate the station from the circuit, immediately walking down Viale Andrea Costa (with the new upgraded sections which are greener and more accessible), then crossing through the historic city centre with many initiatives, and finally, entering viale Dante, a treelined stretch that leads directly to the Circuit’s tower. For the event Trenitalia has scheduled special Freccia Rossa and Intercity trains, as well as additional regional trains provided by Trenitalia TPER.

A wide range of parking

For those who come by car or bus, many convenient parking areas have been setup, even close to the entries to the circuit. In addition, three temporary camping areas have also been setup, with compulsory booking until all the places are filled. The map and the directions are on  https://visitareimola.it/evento/gran-premio-di-f1/

There are all the ingredients for experiencing an intense weekend of Motorsport, while then waiting for the 8th edition of the Historic Minardi Day (24-25 August)

 

GIAN CARLO MINARDI CALLS ALL THE FANS TO IMOLA “WE’RE READY. A WONDERFUL WEEKEND AWAITS US”

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If, on the one hand the Azerbaijan GP gave us the usual unstoppable Red Bull which set the third double of the season (in the first four rounds), on the other hand Ferrari set its seal on the double pole position and on the two podiums with Charles Leclerc interrupting the positive streak of Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin (always on the podium since the start of the season).

“I was left positively impressed by the two times set by Leclerc in the final part of the GP with the fuel tank full and hard tyres. The driver from Monte Carlo lapped in the same times as Verstappen and Perez staying in the tussle for the fastest lap, together with Nando (which then went to George Russell after the pit-stop). It was exciting. A positive sign, above all connected to the wear of the tyres, one of the SF-23’s Achille’s heels,” commented the President of Formula Imola, Gian Carlo Minardi.

Leclerc crossed the finish line little more than 21 seconds from the winner Perez, paying a gap of 44 tenths of a second per lap. “A major step forward compared to the 7-8 tenths of a second at the start of the season. Ferrari managed to make the most of the month without races to make its car grow, also because now demanding tour-de-force awaits them with 5 GPs in six weeks”.

After Miami the world championship will come to Imola’s Enzo and Dino Ferrari Circuit for the Qatar Airways Gran Prix of the Made in Italy and Emilia-Romagna from May 19 to 21. “At Imola I expect even smaller gaps. Ferrari and Aston Martin could start to interfere in Red Bull’s schedule. Amongst other things it will be the setting for a new form of qualifying: the drivers will face Q1 with the hard compound, Q2 with the medium and Q3 the soft. An unknown factor to keep us entertained and a major reason to support Ferrari. Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez and all our favourites. I hope to see many fans also on the Friday and Saturday when there will also be support races”.

The President of Formula Imola called all the enthusiasts and fans together to experience the first European round with many new features, and an intense racing programme between Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 e Porsche Supercup “If the teams have taken advantage of this month long gap to develop their racing cars, we have worked to make the Circuit as accessible and comfortable as possible. In order to satisfy the needs of the fans we have set up another six grandstands and other new developments will be announced soon. Furthermore, the weekend’s programme will be full of races, with many Italians already protagonists. Above all in Formula 3” Tickets are on sale on the Circuit’s website.

F1 | MONZA, MUGELLO, IMOLA. GIAN CARLO MINARDI “SOURCE OF GREAT PRIDE”

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It is official. In addition to Monza (6 September – Italian Grand Prix) and Mugello (13 September – Grand Prix of Tuscany) Italy will also have another round.

Imola’s Enzo e Dino Ferrari Circuit will host once more a round of the Formula 1 World Championship 14 years after the last round won by Michael Schumacher in 2006 with Ferrari, in front of Kimi Raikonnen and Robert Kubica.

“Three grands prix on three different circuits must be a source of great pride for Italy. The inclusion of Imola gives me much pleasure both as a Motorsport enthusiast and as President of the ACI Sport Speed Commission on Circuits. It’s certainly a circuit that I’m very fond of since I live barely 14km from the Circuit and, not by chance, we chose it as the venue for the Historic Minardi Day.

We have given a major, as well unique, show of strength managing to make up for the lack of others without having to resort to a double grand prix on the same circuit which, in the case of Silverstone, could become even triple. This is a solution that I honestly don’t appreciate. ” commented Gian Carlo Minardi.

The Circus will return to the track alongside the Santerno River during the weekend of 1 November, a week after the Portuguese Grand prix, the other novelty together with the Eifel Grand Prix which will be run at Nurburging on 11 October.