Vallelunga was established as a sand oval in 1951 and remained a relatively modest facility during its early years. From 1963 the circuit hosted the Rome Grand Prix, an event that attracted international single-seater fields and helped establish the venue's profile. In 1967 a new loop was added to the track when ownership passed to the Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), significantly changing the circuit's character. Further refurbishment followed in 1971, and the facility was eventually named in honor of Piero Taruffi, a celebrated Italian racing driver who competed in Grand Prix events and won the Mille Miglia.
The original layout ran approximately 1.773 km. The 1967 extension created the longer configuration that served as the track's primary layout through subsequent decades. This expanded circuit hosted a range of national and international events under the International Circuit designation. In August 2004, construction began on a further 0.863 km extension that brought the track to its current length of approximately 2.636 km in the full International Circuit configuration. The new section received FIA homologation as a test circuit, making Vallelunga a venue for Formula One team testing.
The earlier, shorter loop — the version of the circuit in use before the 2004 expansion — is now designated the Historic International Circuit. A benchmark for this layout was set by Luca Badoer during Formula One testing in October 2004 when he recorded a time of 0:56.335 seconds in a Ferrari F2004, establishing it as the outright track record for that configuration before the extended layout came into use.
The Rome Grand Prix, the circuit's signature event, ran from 1967 through 1984 under the European Formula Two Championship and later the International Formula 3000 series, continuing in various guises through 1991. The World Sportscar Championship visited in 1973 and again from 1976 to 1980. The European Touring Car Championship raced at Vallelunga regularly between 1974 and 1988, and again in 2000. The circuit hosted the 6 Hours of Rome endurance event from 1973, with the race running in various forms through to 2020. Superbike World Championship rounds were held at the circuit in 2007 and 2008.
Italian Formula Three Championship events were held at Vallelunga from 1972 through to 2012, making the circuit one of the most consistent venues for Italian domestic single-seater racing over four decades. The Italian Formula Renault Championship also used the facility regularly between 2000 and 2012.
In a notable connection to sim racing, the circuit is home to Kunos Simulazioni — the Italian studio behind the Assetto Corsa simulation franchise — which occupies a pit garage at Vallelunga as its office. This relationship has ensured the circuit's presence in Assetto Corsa and related titles.
Today Vallelunga hosts a busy calendar including the Italian GT Championship, Italian F4 Championship, TCR Italian Series, and NASCAR Euro Series events. The ACI also uses the facility for public driving safety training courses, and each autumn the circuit hosts an extensive flea market specializing in vintage automotive spare parts.
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