The area around Imola is home to several racing car manufacturers, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Racing Bulls (RB), Dallara, and Stanguellini. Following the Second World War, Imola launched a program to improve the local economy. Four local motor racing enthusiasts proposed the construction of a new road linking existing public roads, which local car manufacturers used to test prototypes. Construction began in March 1950. The first test run took place two years later when Enzo Ferrari sent a car to the track and Alberto Ascari ran demonstration laps.
In April 1953, the first motorcycle races took place at Imola, and the first car race took place in June 1954. In April 1963, the first race with Formula One cars took place at Imola as a non-championship event, won by Jim Clark for Lotus. A further non-championship event took place at Imola in 1979, won by Niki Lauda for Brabham-Alfa Romeo.
In 1980, the Italian Grand Prix moved from Monza to Imola (later known as Autodromo Dino Ferrari) due to the 1978 startline pile-up that claimed the life of Ronnie Peterson. Nelson Piquet won it for Brabham-Ford. The following year, the Italian Grand Prix returned to Monza. The owners of the Imola circuit, eager to remain on the calendar, asked the Automobile Club of San Marino to apply for their own Grand Prix, which was successful, leading to the birth of the San Marino Grand Prix.
The 1981 event saw Canadian Gilles Villeneuve qualify his Ferrari on pole position. He led for 19 laps until pitting for fresh tyres. His teammate Didier Pironi inherited the lead but was caught by Nelson Piquet, who won the race, with Riccardo Patrese taking second and Carlos Reutemann third. 1982 saw a memorable race boycotted by most of the FOCA teams. Only 14 cars competed, and after the Renaults of Alain Prost and René Arnoux retired, Ferrari finished first and second. Teammates Villeneuve and Pironi battled fiercely. Ferrari ordered drivers to slow down, but Pironi passed Villeneuve on the final lap to win. Villeneuve was irate, believing it a betrayal, and stated, "I'll never speak to Pironi again in my life." He died during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix two weeks later, still not on speaking terms with his teammate.
1983 saw Ferrari win again, with Patrick Tambay taking top honors and Riccardo Patrese crashing his Brabham at Acquaminerale. 1984 saw Prost win in a McLaren. 1985 was another exciting race where Ayrton Senna led much of the race. Stefan Johansson, in only his second drive for Ferrari, passed Senna on Lap 61 to take the lead but retired due to a fuel problem. Prost finished first but was disqualified for an underweight car; victory was handed to Elio de Angelis. 1986 saw Prost win yet again in a fuel-starved race. 1987 saw Senna take pole position from Nigel Mansell; his teammate Nelson Piquet had a huge crash at Tamburello and did not participate due to FIA doctor Sid Watkins declaring him unfit. 1988 saw the McLaren duo of Prost and Senna totally dominate.
1989 saw the circuit renamed Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari to honor Enzo Ferrari. Gerhard Berger crashed heavily at Tamburello, his car bursting into flames. He survived with burns to his hands and missed the Monaco Grand Prix. The race was red-flagged and restarted. McLaren teammates Prost and Senna had an agreement, but Senna passed Prost into Tosa. Prost was furious, seeing it as a broken agreement. Senna won, Prost finished second.
In 1990, pole-sitter Senna suffered a puncture, leaving Nigel Mansell and Berger to battle. Mansell spun and his engine failed. Riccardo Patrese won in a Williams, followed by Berger. The 1991 event was rain-soaked; Prost spun off on the parade lap. McLaren finished first and second, with Senna in front of Berger, and JJ Lehto finishing on the podium. 1992 saw the Williams pair of Nigel Mansell and Patrese dominate. 1993 saw Prost win, driving a Williams.
The 1994 San Marino Grand Prix was marred by several accidents, including two driver deaths. On Friday, Jordan driver Rubens Barrichello suffered a severe concussion at the Variante Bassa chicane. The next day, Simtek driver Roland Ratzenberger crashed at the Villeneuve Corner after his front wing broke, and he was killed. On race day, Benetton driver JJ Lehto and Lotus driver Pedro Lamy collided at the start, injuring eight spectators. On Lap 7, Williams driver Ayrton Senna ran off course at Tamburello and was killed instantly. Later, a wheel from Michele Alboreto's Minardi came off, injuring four mechanics. Michael Schumacher won the race, with Ferrari replacement Nicola Larini finishing second. Celebrations were limited. In the aftermath, Tamburello was changed to a chicane, and the Villeneuve curve was added, improving safety. Subsequent regulation changes were made to cars in the 1994 and 1995 seasons.
For 1995, the Tamburello and Villeneuve corners were altered into slower chicanes, and the Variante Bassa was straightened. This also led to changes at other circuits and the sport as a whole to improve safety. Damon Hill won in 1995 and 1996. 1998 saw David Coulthard take a marginal victory despite his Mercedes engine failing. From 1999 to 2004, Michael Schumacher achieved a romp of victories, except for 2001, which was won by his brother Ralf Schumacher. 2000 featured dominance from Mika Häkkinen and Schumacher; Häkkinen dropped back after hitting debris, allowing Schumacher to win. 2004 saw BAR driver Jenson Button take a surprise pole position from Schumacher and Barrichello; Button finished second behind Schumacher, who won 13 races that year. Fernando Alonso won in 2005. In 2006, Schumacher won for the seventh time, while Yuji Ide caused an accident that flipped Christijan Albers' car, costing Ide his FIA superlicense.
On August 29, 2006, it was announced that the race would be dropped from the calendar for the 2007 season to make room for the Belgian Grand Prix. It has not featured since under the San Marino title. No San Marinese drivers ever competed in the Grand Prix. Italians Elio de Angelis and Riccardo Patrese won in 1985 and 1990, respectively. Michael Schumacher won seven times, and Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost both won three times. Williams and Ferrari have both won eight times, and McLaren six times. Imola would return to the F1 race calendar in 2020 as the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Roland Ratzenberger died in a crash at Villeneuve Corner during qualifying for the 1994 Grand Prix on April 30, 1994. Three-time Imola winner Ayrton Senna died in a crash at Tamburello while leading the race on May 1, 1994.
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