The Aerautodromo di Modena opened in 1950 on land at the edge of the city. The track measured 2.366 km in length and was crossed by an active airstrip of approximately 1.6 km used by a local flying club. This coexistence of motor racing and aviation gave the venue an unusual character — racing events and flight operations had to be coordinated, and the runway's integration into the track layout meant that parts of the racing surface were flat and open in ways that more purpose-built circuits were not.
The history of racing in the area predates the permanent circuit. The first Modena Grand Prix events were held on a 12-kilometre road circuit around the area where the autodrome would eventually be built. Enzo Ferrari won on both of those early occasions. The race was revived in 1938 on a shorter urban permutation known as the Circuito del Parco or Anello dei Viali, where Tazio Nuvolari won three times. Following a serious accident in 1947 that killed five spectators, the race track underwent significant upgrades, and the Modena Grand Prix was relaunched in 1950 using the new permanent autodrome.
The autodrome's racing career spanned 25 years. The Modena Grand Prix was the circuit's signature event, run nine times between 1950 and 1961 for Formula One and Formula Two class cars. The final edition, held on 3 September 1961, was won by Stirling Moss in a Lotus 18/21.
Beyond the Grand Prix, the circuit hosted sports car races, grand touring events, Formula Junior and motorcycle racing throughout its operational life until 1975. Its proximity to the Ferrari factory in nearby Maranello and the Maserati works in Modena made the circuit invaluable as a weekday test facility. Ferrari and Maserati used the track for car development during morning or afternoon sessions on weekdays — the airstrip claimed the other half of the day. Ferrari driver Mike Parkes, an accomplished private pilot, would fly in regularly from England in his own aircraft to conduct testing sessions.
In the early 1970s, Enzo Ferrari — backed by Maserati and Automobili Stanguellini — lobbied the Modena Town Council and the Automobile Club d'Italia to upgrade the circuit's safety and facilities. The reasoning was clear: the track lacked the basic safety standards required for modern racing cars, and its infrastructure had not kept pace with developments elsewhere. Initial discussions were held with apparent interest, but the proposal stalled due to lack of political will to commit funding.
Ferrari's response to the impasse was decisive: he purchased land adjacent to his factory in Maranello and built the private Fiorano Circuit, a 2.997 km purpose-built test track that opened in 1972 and remains in use today. The Automobile Club d'Italia simultaneously redirected its investment toward the semi-permanent Imola circuit, effectively ending any prospect of a modernized Modena venue hosting major international events.
Without its principal industrial clients and with no path to meeting modern safety standards, the Aerautodromo di Modena ceased racing operations. The circuit was subsequently demolished, and the site was redeveloped as a public park honouring Enzo Ferrari, opened in 1991.
A new Autodromo di Modena opened in 2011 in the Marzaglia area near the Via Aemilia, measuring 2.068 km and catering to contemporary club racing, manufacturer testing, and driving safety courses. In 2022, the municipality of Modena approved a further extension that would add a 1-kilometre straight and bring the total length to 4.150 km. The new circuit, while located in a different area and serving different needs, continues the tradition of motorized competition in a city whose identity has long been intertwined with the automobile through Ferrari, Maserati, De Tomaso, and the broader Motor Valley that defines Emilia-Romagna.