f1 circuits: Italy

AUTODROMO NATIONALE DI MONZA 

Overview

Monza circuit is the greatest sports complex for motorcycle and car races in Italy and one of the most famous all over the world.  In 1999 the cars drove faster than 363 Km/h.  The circuit was modified and corrected in 2000 with a simpler and slower chicane at the end of the pit straight. 

It is a fast track which comes down to pure horsepower. A minimum of down force is required. To set the quickest times the drivers must use the curbs. This weighs heavily on the dependability of the chassis and it is not uncommon to see the race leader fumble due to car trouble.


Specifications:

  • Date: September 9th 2007
  • Starting time: 14:00 CET
  • Local time: CET
  • First GP: 1950
  • Circuit length: 5,793 km
  • Race Laps: 53
  • Total distance: 307.029 km
  • Winner 2006: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari
  • Fastest Lap: Rubens Barichello, 2004, Ferrari 1:21.046


History:

Built in 1922 in only 100 days by the Automobile Club of Milan, Monza is Europe´s oldest permanent circuit still in use. Orginally comprising both a road course and a banked oval, sometime combined for major races upto the 1960´s, only the road course is used today, though the impressive banking still exists, although there are now plans to demolish this historic structure.

Set in a former Royal park on the outskirts of Milan, Italy´s second major city, the contemporary circuit is still one of the fastest in Europe being a series of long, straight flat-out blasts and long high-speed corners, interrupted only by the inevitable chicanes.

Although it survives more or less in its origial layout, the track was used as a military vehicle park during WW2 and suffered extensive damage through bombing, and the bankings in particular required reconstruction before being used again in 1948. All manner of combinations of circuit were used in the 1930´s and curiously this included te use of chicanes already. Well worth a visit just to experience the enthusiasm of the famous "tifosi".

 

Directions:

From Milan:
Road to Monza from V.le Zara, V.le Fulvio Testi, V.le Brianza, V.le Lombardia, Rondō dei Pini, Villa Reale, then access to the Park through Porta Monza or Porta Santa Maria delle Selve (pedestrians and authorized personnel only). Otherwise starting from Piazzale Loreto through Viale Monza, Sesto San Giovanni, V.le Casiraghi, V.le Brianza and then follow the same instruction given before.
Italian motorways - www.autostrade.it  

 

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