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The circuit, which is located 20 miles south-east of Bolgna, is lkaid out in the Castellacio Park and was first used in 1950. Originally 3.118 miles long, it was used for the occasional non-Championship race, but was very much a second-string circuit until 1973 when it was refurbished with the addition of Varianta Bassa and renamed Autodromo Enzo E Dino Ferrari. Variante Alta was added in 1974, when the length increased to 3.144 miles and a chicane was added at Aqua Minerale in time for the first Championship race in 1981, when the length of a lap became 3.132 miles.
Imola is a quick, undulating, circuit with a series of demanding corners broken by chicanes. Popular with almost everyone, it was imola's misfortune to be the scene of fatal accidents to Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna in 1994 and these tragedies have clung to imola's reputation.
Giancarlo Fisichella describes a lap of imola:
"I start the lap accelerating hard past the pits to the Tamburello Chicane reaching a speed of just over 185 mph (300 kph). Then I brake hard for the left right which I take in 2nd gear at around 75 mph (125 kph).
From there I need to accelerate hard down to the Villeneuve Chicane reaching a slightly lower speed of 180 mph (285 kph) before going into this tricky corner. This corner is difficult because the entry is taken while still braking & then the final right-hand part is taken in 3rd gear at about 90 mph (145 kph).
From there I accelerate quickly before braking hard again for Tosa taken again in 2nd gear at just under 50 mph (80 kph). I like this corner because there is still an opportunity to overtake although it is harder now than it used to be.
Out of Tosa I accelerate up the hill reaching 5th gear and speed of about 175 mph (280kph) before taking Piratella in 4th gear at 110 mph (175 kph). This is a difficult corner as the circuit drops away at the exit. Going down the hill towards Acque Minerali I get up to 165 mph (270 kph) before braking very hard down to the 70 mph (110 kph) 2nd gear corner.
Accelerating out I climb again to the Variante Alta reaching 165 mph (270 kph) before braking down to 2nd gear for this complex of corners, the minimum speed is about 75 mph (125 kph). As I accelerate out of this chicane I achieve the maximum speed, depending on wind conditions, of around 185 mph (300 kph), which is similar to the pit straight. This is just before the two Rivazza corners, which are both taken in 2nd gear, the first one at about 60 mph (100 kph) immediately followed by the 2nd one at about 75 mph (120kph).
There is then a short straight where I get up to 170 mph (275 kph) and this leads to the final very slow chicane, Variante Bassa, before the pits which I take in 2nd gear at around 60 mph (95 kph)."
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