Imola

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Who else wants to see this great track return to the calendar? The safety of the track may have been an issue, but it's a classic F1 track and it flows brilliantly (GT5 DLC Kaz?). I don't have any problems with the new 'Tilke designed' tracks, but I think it's a shame that the FIA had to replace such an iconic circuit.
 
Wikipedia

Following an FIA decision in August 2006, the Grand Prix was removed from the calendar of the 2007 Formula One season.
SAGIS, the company that owns the circuit, hoped that the race would be reinstated at the October 2006 meeting of the FIA World Motorsport Council and scheduled for the weekend of 29 April 2007, providing renovations to the circuit were completed in time for the race, but the reinstatement was denied.
Since then, the circuit has undergone major revisions:
The Variante Bassa chicane has been removed, making the run from Rivazza 2 to the first Tamburello chicane totally flat-out, much like the circuit in its original fast-flowing days. However the chicane has been reinstalled for motorcycle races.
The old pit garages and paddock have been demolished and completely rebuilt - the pitlane extended and resurfaced - the reconstruction overseen by German track architect Hermann Tilke.
The circuit hopes to rejoin the Formula One calendar within the next few seasons.
In June 2008, with most of the reconstruction work completed, The FIA gave the track a "1T" rating, meaning that an official Formula One Test can be held at the circuit; circuits require the "1" homologation to host a Formula One Grand Prix. However, as of August 2011, the track received a '1' FIA homologation rating after a recent inspection by Charlie Whiting.
The circuit hosted the 2008 WTCC Race of Europe, on 21 September 2008.
In 2011, the 6 Hours of Imola was revived and added to the Le Mans Series and Intercontinental Le Mans Cup as a season event.

Pretty stupid that it isn't allowed. It's a better track then Monaco.
 
I don't really hate any F1 circuits, although Tilke has churned out some less than exciting tracks. I agree, it's stupid that they can't re-introduce it, the classics like Imola, Monaco, Spa, Monza etc. are always the most exciting for me 👍
 
The problem with Imola is that it was falling to bits, the tarmac was all broken up the pits were old and outdated, Italy already had another race, basically it had no place on the calender which is a shame since its a good track. At least its hosting some major races since its renovation like the GP2 Asia finale last year and ILMC.

Pretty stupid that it isn't allowed. It's a better track then Monaco.

At the end it says its been re-rated as 1 so its allowed to host F1 races again, the problem is getting more money than countries like UAE and Bahrain.
 
Yeah I agree it was just too old, but now they've rebuilt the pit lane and brought back some events like the 6 hour endurance race it should be reconsidered. I really hope they can get the cash because I'd much rather see the San Marino GP at Imola than a generic track in a developing country (No offence).
 
Yeah I agree it was just too old, but now they've rebuilt the pit lane and brought back some events like the 6 hour endurance race it should be reconsidered.
Circuit gradings aren't based on the kind of events the circuit attracts. They're based on meeting certain criteria for safety and accessibility. Imola's biggest problem is the kink on the main straight; it frequently causes accidents (and with the removal of the Bassa chicane, it gets even faster). Ideally, it would be smoothed out - but it physically cannot be done. To the right hand side is the pits and paddock, bordered by a creek that roughly follows the curve of the original Tamburello corne. This means that it's running at an angle to the pit building. It would be a very expensive and time-consuming job to work around it and straighten out the main straight. On the left-hand side of the kink is an embankment, and on top of that embankment is the Acque Minerale corner. If development started shaving into that hill, it would jeopardise the integrity of the Minerale corner. The last thing anyone wants is a landslide taking part of the circuit with it.
 
Imola's biggest problem is the kink on the main straight; it frequently causes accidents (and with the removal of the Bassa chicane, it gets even faster). Ideally, it would be smoothed out - but it physically cannot be done.

They used a chicane in the superbike race this year to slow them down (Look at 45 seconds in this video) but I'm guessing that would be too slow and clumsy for F1 cars.
 
Circuit gradings aren't based on the kind of events the circuit attracts. They're based on meeting certain criteria for safety and accessibility. Imola's biggest problem is the kink on the main straight; it frequently causes accidents (and with the removal of the Bassa chicane, it gets even faster). Ideally, it would be smoothed out - but it physically cannot be done. To the right hand side is the pits and paddock, bordered by a creek that roughly follows the curve of the original Tamburello corne. This means that it's running at an angle to the pit building. It would be a very expensive and time-consuming job to work around it and straighten out the main straight. On the left-hand side of the kink is an embankment, and on top of that embankment is the Acque Minerale corner. If development started shaving into that hill, it would jeopardise the integrity of the Minerale corner. The last thing anyone wants is a landslide taking part of the circuit with it.

Yeah I know, safety is key, I just worded it abit wrong. I meant that more high profile events returning to the circuit is just generally a good thing :) You obviously know a lot more about the circuit than I do, and I can understand now that the kink is pretty dangerous (especially with the higher speeds now). But if that's the case, why have the FIA just awarded it a licence to host F1 races?

EDIT: And that's right, they only use the chicane for bike races now.
 
Imola is a perfect example of a classic flowing track utterly ruined by chicanery.

As for why it won't return to the F1 calendar, where are they going to came up with the money Bernie demands for a race?
 
Wasn't the F1 racing actually pretty poor at Imola though?

I seem to remember it being almost impossible to overtake there.
 
Apparently they're going to apply for a race in the next few years. It has some flaws, but it's definitely got more charisma than an uninteresting track in the middle of a desert country...for example.

And there's worse tracks for overtaking on the current schedule in my opinion. Valencia anyone? 👎
 
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