F1 history for Italy as Imola makes "extraordinary return" - ACI president

Imola

F1 history for Italy as Imola makes "extraordinary return" - ACI president

Imola last staged an F1 race in 2006

Ian Parkes

Friday 24 July 2020 17:43

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The president of the Automobile Club of Italy has hailed Imola's "extraordinary return" and the "unique case" that will see his country host three Formula 1 grands prix this year.

The Emilia Romagna GP at Imola has been confirmed as one of F1's three new races for this season, alongside the return of the Nürburgring and a debut for Portimão, replacing the axed races in the United States, Mexico and Brazil for Covid-19 reasons.

It means alongside races at Monza and Mugello, Italy will stage three events this year, making it only the second time in F1 history - after the United States in 1982 at Long Beach, Detroit and Las Vegas - that a country has held three races in a calendar year.

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Imola's inclusion ends a 14-year hiatus for the circuit that held the San Marino Grand Prix from 1981 to 2006, while further history will be made as it will stage a two-day weekend, with the FIA to reveal plans in due course.

ACI president Angelo Sticchi Damiani declared it "an important milestone and a strong recognition of the organisational qualities and the history of Italian motorsport.

"The decision of the FIA and of the Formula One Group, to include a race on the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit in the 2020 calendar, after those already scheduled at Monza and Mugello, is yet another confirmation of the quality of the work done by the ACI over the years.

"Of course, this decision is also recognition of the history at the Dino and Enzo Ferrari circuit in Imola who, for 20 years, has written fundamental pages of the Formula 1 epic.

"[It is] An extraordinary return that rewards the technical qualities of the facility and the great skills of those who have been working on it for years.

"This designation, therefore, leads to three Formula 1 grands prix to be held this year in Italy - an absolute record for our country and a unique case in the world that certifies the high quality of our nation's motorsport system.

"In fact, we are the only ones in the world to have three circuits approved to host races of the maximum formula of motorsport."

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