... has no real connection with San Marino. It was built in 1953, near to the factories of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati, as an alternative to Monza. It held its first (non–championship) Formula One race in 1963, and another in 1979. In 1980 it hosted the Italian Grand Prix, and this was such a success that a new Grand Prix was invented for it to host every year: hence the San Marino Grand Prix.
Imola was officially renamed in 1970 after Dino Ferrari, the son of Enzo Ferrari (founder of the company that bears his name), who suffered from muscular dystrophy and died in 1956 aged 24. In 1988, following Enzo's death, it was renamed Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
Imola is about 25 miles east of Bologna, and near Ravenna, on Italy's north–east coast. San Marino is about 25 miles south.
Until the 21st century, Imola was one of only two Formula 1 Grand Prix venues (along with Interlagos, Brazil) where races were run anti–clockwise.
Other than in 1980, the Italian Grand Prix has been held at Monza every year since 1949. Monza is near Milan – about 170 miles north–west of Imola.
© Haydn Thompson 2017