Road races were held on public streets around Mugello from the 1920s. The original circuit started in the village of Scarperia, less than half a kilometer from the current permanent circuit. The course twisted through mountains and multiple villages, extending up to Firenzuola and back, utilizing sections of the SP503 and SR65 roads. Giuseppe Campari won at Mugello in both 1920 and 1921, and Emilio Materassi secured victories in 1925, 1926, and 1928. The Mugello GP was revived in 1955 and ran from 1964 to 1969 as a Targa Florio-like road race, consisting of eight laps of 66.2 km (41.1 mi) each, including the Passo della Futa.
The original Mugello road circuit hosted races from the 1920s until 1970. The 1965, 1966, and 1967 races counted towards the World Sportscar Championship, with Udo Schütz and Gerhard Mitter winning in 1967 in a Porsche 910. Alfa Romeo secured a win in 1968 with Luciano Bianchi, Nanni Galli, and Nino Vaccarella, while Arturo Merzario won in 1969 and again in 1970 with an Abarth 2000, leading an Abarth 1-2-3 finish.
The 1970 event marked the end of the 66.2 km (41.1 mi) public road circuit after a tragic incident. During a private test, Spartaco Dini crashed his Alfa Romeo GTA into a group of people in Firenzuola, killing a seven-month-old baby and seriously injuring four others, including two children. Although only one previous fatality had occurred on the original Mugello circuit (Günther Klass in 1967), this incident severely damaged the event’s reputation. Dini spent two months in prison following the crash and subsequently left Italy.
The modern circuit features a variety of challenging corners, but Arrabbiata 1 and 2 are particularly notable. Arrabbiata 2 was the site of a fatal accident in 2021 during the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix, where Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier was killed after a fall and subsequent impact from other riders. The corner’s fast entry and challenging apex demand precision from drivers and riders.
The present-day closed Mugello circuit was constructed in 1973 and opened in 1974, located approximately 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the original road circuit. Since 1988, the track has been owned by Scuderia Ferrari and used extensively for Formula One testing. In 2007 and 2008, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters held annual events at the circuit. In 2020, Mugello hosted its first Formula One race, the Tuscan Grand Prix, as part of a restructured season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Grand Prix was also significant as it marked the 1000th Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari.
The 1970 incident involving Spartaco Dini’s crash during a private test was a key factor in the cessation of racing on the original public road circuit. The fatality and multiple injuries led to a reassessment of safety and ultimately the construction of the dedicated, closed Mugello circuit. More recently, the fatal accident of Jason Dupasquier at Arrabbiata 2 in 2021 prompted further safety reviews and discussions regarding motorcycle racing safety.
Mugello hosts a wide variety of motorsport events beyond Formula One and MotoGP. The Italian motorcycle Grand Prix is held annually at the circuit for MotoGP and smaller classes. The circuit has also hosted events from series such as the 24H Series, World Endurance Championship, Superbike World Championship, TCR Europe Touring Car Series, and various GT and Formula racing championships. It has also been a regular venue for Ferrari Challenge events.
As of March 2026, the official lap record for the current circuit layout is 1:18.833, set by Lewis Hamilton in the 2020 Tuscan Grand Prix. An unofficial all-time track record of 1:15.144 was also set by Hamilton during qualifying for the same race. Mugello has achieved a 3-star FIA Environmental Accreditation, along with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 20121 and Eco-Management and Audit Scheme certifications, and was ranked the most sustainable racetrack in the world in a 2021 report. On 26 September 2025, Romain Grosjean returned to Formula 1 driving a Haas VF-23 at Mugello, five years after his accident at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, for an official Testing of Previous Cars session.
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