Mugello Speedway Formula One Race Track

The Mugello Speedway: Firmly Planted in the Present

The Mugello Speedway was originally built with a different style of racing in mind: it was noted road track, which was hosting racing as early as 1914 when the Mugello Road Race started to become an annual event. The outbreak of World War I put an end to that.

The challenging and selective competition enjoyed its “golden years” in the postwar period, when the best drivers of the day challenged one another on the 66 kilometer track -- which went from Scarperia uphill to Firenzuola, and then through the Futa Pass downhill to San Piero and back to Scarperia. The legendary names linked to this historical race still echo today: Campari, Brilli Peri, Enzo Ferrari (who won in 1921 on an Alfa Romeo class 4.500), Ascari, Borzacchini and perhaps, most importantly, Emilio Materassi, the local idol.

In 1960's as racing became more modernized, the Mugello competition was placed on a standard track and set at a distance of 66 kilometers. Destiny deemed that the histories of the Mugello racetrack and Ferrari would meet again, but it was necessary to wait over twenty years.

The seven events held in the 1960’s drew hundreds of thousands of spectators in the green valley of Mugello. They were attracted by the performance of the sport and touring cars in battle for the supremacy and their hearts beat for the drivers of these cars so near to the production model, like the little modified Abarth. The track allowed spectacular driving performances, which drivers such as Enrico Pinto, Nanni Galli, Ignazio Giunti, Mauro Nesti and Arturo Merzario exploited to create their lasting and well-deserved reputation. The enthusiasm of the Tuscan spectators was devoted to the most spectacular drivers. Sandro “the Dragon” Munari, was particularly favored in his exhibitions on the difficult and challenging rounds of the Apennines with the Fulvia Barchetta, designed by Fiorio and Maglioli.

Of these epic contests, the most exiting was in 1968, when the Alfa Romeo car, driven by Luciano Bianchi, Galli and Nino Vaccarella, won after an incredible recovery over the Porsche, driven by Rico Steinemann and the Swiss Jo Siffert.

These days, the Mugello Speedway is in the midst of a new era: the track represents a step forward in the creation of racetracks that exemplify the safety, technology, and modern facilities that modern-day racers demand. Designed and realized according to the devices developed by the sciences of road racing, the Mugello Speedway guarantees the maximum safety for drivers and spectators alike, thanks to its wide run-off areas in the most demanding corners of the track and its service road for the rescue all along the 5,245 meter track. Thanks to its positioning characterized by a total variance in altitude of 4,119 meters, the Mugello Speedway is an ideal place for the most rigorous racing.

To date, the Mugello Speedway has hosted the Formula 5,000 Championship (which baptized the renovated circuit on June 23rd, 1974), the Formula 3,000, the Formula 2, the Fia-Gt and has been the only circuit in Italy to host the ITC.

The Mugello Speedway runs over 5,000 meters through the forests and green areas. The elevated areas along the track permit the spectators to take part fully in the race: to experience strong emotions ad protagonists.

The speedway is located 30 kilometers north of Florence and 100 kilometers south of Bologna. If you are traveling on the Motorway A1 between Bologna and Florence, exit at Barberino del Mugello (15 kilometers from the track) and follow the road markings "Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello".

Visitors arriving from the Apennine mountains; through the Muraglione and the Futa Pass need to follow the road signs for Luco di Mugello and Scarperia when you arrive in Borgo S.Lorenzo. From Florence: State road 302 "Faentina" passing through Fiesole, Polcanto, Borgo San Lorenzo and Scarperia. The nearest airports are Florence (30k) Pisa (120k) and Bologna (100K)