One of the circuits that has shaped the history of motor racing in Italy, the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari, shares a rich and memorable bond with Ferrari – also in endurance racing. Since its opening in 1953, the 4.909-kilometre, 21-turn circuit has hosted a number of landmark moments, including a one-two finish by the 312 PBs at the 500 Kilometres of Imola in 1972 and a one-two-three in qualifying in the FIA WEC in 2024.
For the second consecutive year, the World Endurance Championship features a leg in Emilia-Romagna. Like last season, Imola hosts the second round of the championship in 2025 – the first of three European events, completed by the 6 Hours of Spa Francorchamps in May and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
Renowned worldwide for its highly technical layout and corners such as “Tosa”, “Acque Minerali”, and “Rivazza”, the circuit has been the venue for various endurance events over the decades. These include the 500 Kilometres of Imola – a round of the Italian Sport Championship – which ended in a Ferrari one-two in 1972, as we said above: Arturo Merzario, driving a 312 PB, was first to cross the line in a race contested over several heats, followed by Jacky Ickx in the same model. Twelve years later, in 1984, the 1000 Kilometres of Imola featured in the World Championship for Sports Prototypes – when the Prancing Horse was no longer directly involved in top-tier endurance racing.
As mentioned, the Italian circuit returned to the world championship competition calendar with the 6 Hours of Imola in the FIA WEC in 2024. In front of a remarkable crowd – with 73,600 spectators attending over the weekend – the Maranello brand dominated qualifying with a one-two-three finish. Fuoco–Molina–Nielsen secured pole position in the number 50 Ferrari – AF Corse 499P, ahead of Ye-Shwartzman-Kubica in AF Corse number 83, followed by Pier Guidi-Calado-Giovinazzi in the other official car. At the chequered flag, the number 50 crew finished fourth, with the number 51 car seventh.
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola has been known by its current name since 1988, following the death of the Maranello-based company’s founder. Over its long history, the circuit has hosted 31 Formula One Grands Prix: one edition of the Italian Grand Prix (1980), 26 of the San Marino Grand Prix (1981-2006), and four of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix (2020-22, 2024).