San Marino Grand Prix

Formula 1 Grand Prix held near San Marino in Italy

The San Marino Grand Prix was a Formula One championship race. It was held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in the town of Imola. Imola is near the Apennine mountains in Italy. The race was first held 1981, and the last race was in 2006. It is named the San Marino Grand Prix after the nearby republic of San Marino.

San Marino Grand Prix
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli
Race information
Number of times held52
First held1967
Most wins (drivers)Germany Michael Schumacher (7)
Most wins (constructors)United Kingdom Williams
Italy Ferrari (8)
Circuit length4.226 km (2.626 mi)
Race length308.498 km (191.698 mi)
Laps73
Last race (2006)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

History

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The area by Imola is home to several racing car manufacturers, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati. Following the Second World War, the town started a project to improve the local economy. Four local motor racing fans suggested building a new road. The road would link together existing public roads. These road were used by the local car manufacturers to test their new car designs. Construction began in March 1950. The first test run took place two years later when Enzo Ferrari sent a car to the track.

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. It was a non-championship event, and was won by Jim Clark for Lotus. An additional non-championship event took place at Imola in 1979. This race was won by Niki Lauda for Brabham-Alfa Romeo.

In 1980, the Italian Grand Prix moved from the high-speed Monza circuit to Imola. This was because of a bad crash in 1978. The crash killed the popular Swedish driver Ronnie Peterson. The 1980 race was won by Nelson Piquet for Brabham-Ford. In 1981 the Italian Grand Prix returned to Monza, and Imola hosted the new San Marino Grand Prix, named after the nearby republic of San Marino.

In 1994 there were three serious accidents at Imola.

  1. During the Friday practice, Rubens Barrichello hit the fence at the Variante Bassa. It was a very hard crash and he was knocked unconscious for a few minutes.
  2. During the qualifying session on Saturday, Roland Ratzenberger crashed at the Villeneuve Corner. On the lap before he crashed, Roland went over a kerb too quickly which damaged his front wing. This caused his front wing to fail at 190mph, causing him to go into the concrete wall. He hit a concrete barrier wall almost head-on and received a very bad head injury. He was taken to the hospital, but died from injuries.
  3. In the race on Sunday, Ayrton Senna hit a concrete wall at the high-speed Tamburello Corner. Senna suffered severe head injuries. After he was removed from the car he was air lifted to hospital. He died in hospital after his life support was turned off because it was the only thing keeping him alive. It is still not clear today what caused Senna's crash. The car was too damaged to analyse what caused the crash. For the 1995 race, the Tamburello and Villeneuve corners were changed. They became slower chicanes. The Variante Bassa was also straightened. These crashes started changes at other Formula One circuits. Changes were made to make the sport safer.

Teams had complained about the poor quality of the facilities (buildings and work areas) at Imola. San Marino Grand Prix was dropped from the Formula One championship after 2006. Part of the reason for dropping San Marino was there was another grand prix held in Italy.[1]

Winners of the San Marino Grand Prix

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Repeat winners (drivers)

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Wins Driver Years won
7   Michael Schumacher 1994, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
3   Ayrton Senna 1988, 1989, 1991
  Alain Prost 1984, 1986, 1993
2   Nigel Mansell 1987, 1992
  Damon Hill 1995, 1996

Repeat winners (constructors)

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Wins Constructor Years won
8   Ferrari 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
  Williams 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001
6   McLaren 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1998

Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)

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Wins Manufacturer Years won
8   Ferrari 1982, 1983, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
  Renault 1985, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2005
4   Honda 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991
2   TAG * 1984, 1986
  Ford ** 1981, 1994

* Built by Porsche

** Built by Cosworth

By year

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The Imola layout used from 1995 to 2006
 
The Imola layout used from 1967 to 1972
 
The Imola layout used from 1973 to 1979
 
The Imola layout used from 1981 to 1994

A pink background indicates an event which was not part of any championship.

Year Driver Constructor Location Report
1967   Denny Hulme Brabham-Repco Imola Report
1968   John Surtees Honda Report
1969   Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford Report
1970   Jochen Rindt Lotus-Ford Report
1971   Jackie Stewart Tyrrell-Ford Report
1972   Jackie Stewart Lotus-Ford Report
1973   Emerson Fittipaldi Tyrrell-Ford Report
1974   Emerson Fittipaldi McLaren-Ford Report
1975   Niki Lauda Ferrari Report
1976   James Hunt McLaren-Ford Report
1977   James Hunt McLaren-Ford Report
1978   Ronnie Peterson Lotus-Ford Report
1979   Alan Jones Williams-Ford Report
1980 Part of 1980 Italian Grand Prix
1981   Nelson Piquet Brabham-Ford Imola Report
1982   Didier Pironi Ferrari Report
1983   Patrick Tambay Ferrari Report
1984   Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Report
1985   Elio de Angelis Lotus-Renault Report
1986   Alain Prost McLaren-TAG Report
1987   Nigel Mansell Williams-Honda Report
1988   Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1989   Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1990   Riccardo Patrese Williams-Renault Report
1991   Ayrton Senna McLaren-Honda Report
1992   Nigel Mansell Williams-Renault Report
1993   Alain Prost Williams-Renault Report
1994   Michael Schumacher Benetton-Ford Report
1995   Damon Hill Williams-Renault Report
1996   Damon Hill Williams-Renault Report
1997   Heinz-Harald Frentzen Williams-Renault Report
1998   David Coulthard McLaren-Mercedes Report
1999   Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2000   Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2001   Ralf Schumacher Williams-BMW Report
2002   Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2003   Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2004   Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2005   Fernando Alonso Renault Report
2006   Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report

Broadcasting

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United Kingdom

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Year Network Lap-by-lap Colour commentator(s)
2006 ITV James Allen Martin Brundle
2005
2004
2003
2002 F1 Digital+ Ben Edwards John Watson
ITV James Allen Martin Brundle
2001 Murray Walker
2000
1999 Jody Scheckter
1998 Martin Brundle
1997
1996 BBC Two Jonathan Palmer
Eurosport Ben Edwards John Watson
1995 BBC Two Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer
Eurosport Ben Edwards John Watson
1994 BBC Two Murray Walker Jonathan Palmer
Eurosport Allard Kalff John Watson
1993 BBC Two Murray Walker James Hunt
Eurosport Allard Kalff John Watson
1992 BBC Two Murray Walker James Hunt
Eurosport Allard Kalff John Watson
1991 BBC Two Murray Walker James Hunt
Eurosport Richard Nicholls John Watson
1990 BBC Two Murray Walker James Hunt
Eurosport Richard Nicholls John Watson
1989 BBC Two Murray Walker James Hunt
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981

Deaths

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  • Roland Ratzenberger, died in a crash at Villeneuve Corner during qualifying for the 1994 grand prix.
  • Ayrton Senna, died in a crash at Tamburello while leading the race on May 1, 1994.

References

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  1. "San Marino loses Grand Prix race". BBC Sport. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2009-10-21.

Other websites

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44°20′25″N 11°42′49″E / 44.34028°N 11.71361°E / 44.34028; 11.71361