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The San Marino Grand Prix is a Formula One championship race which has been run at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the small town of Imola, near the Apennine mountains in Italy, since 1981, because the principality of San Marino is itself too small to host a grand prix. In 1980, the Imola track was used for the 51st edition of the Italian Grand Prix.
The area around Imola is home to several racing car manufacturers - namely Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati. Following the Second World War, the town launched a program to try to improve the local economy. Four local motor racing enthusiasts proposed the construction of a new road linking existing public roads, which could be used by the local car manufacturers to test their prototypes. Construction began in March 1950. The first test run took place two years later when Enzo Ferrari sent a car to the track.
In April 1953, the first motorcycle races took place at Imola, and the first car race took place in June 1954.
In April 1963, the first race with Formula One cars took place at Imola, as a non-championship event, won by Jim Clark for Lotus.
A further non-championship event took place at Imola in 1979, which was won by Niki Lauda for Brabham-Alfa Romeo.
In 1980, the Italian Grand Prix was hosted at Imola, when the old track at Monza had fallen out of favour. It was won by Nelson Piquet for Brabham-Cosworth. The following year, the Italian Grand Prix was returned to Monza, and Imola was launched as the San Marino Grand Prix, named after the nearby republic of San Marino.
In 1994, there were two serious accidents at Imola, with the death of Roland Ratzenberger in a qualifying race, and the death of Ayrton Senna during the race itself at the sharp Tamburello Corner. As a result, for the 1995 race, Tamburello Corner was turned into a chicane.
In recent years, constructors have complained about the poor quality of the facilities at Imola, and talk of dropping the San Marino Grand Prix from the Formula One championship continues.
Winners of the San Marino Grands Prix
Links
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