The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a permanent racing circuit which currently hosts the Italian Grand Prix. The Italian Grand prix has been held at Monza annualy since the Formula 1 Championship was founded in 1950, except for 1980 (when it was held at Imola. Originally opened in 1922, it closed down in the 1940s due to a war that broke out in Italy. It has a high banked oval (that hasn't been used in a F1 race since 1961, although the film Grand Prix was filmed there), a road course for F1 cars, and a smaller junior circuit.
Circuit Layouts
Current
The current circuit, which has been used since 2000, features the Road Course layout without using the banked oval. The 5.8 km circuit is the fastest on the current calendar in terms of average speed.
The circuit starts with a long run from the start/finish line to Variante del Rettifilo, a slow right-left-right chicane, which leads directly into Curva Grande, a long, fast right hand sweeping corner taken at up to 210 mph. Braking for Variante del Roggia is tricky in the shadows of the bridge and trees, and this left-right chicane requires accurate braking. Out of Roggia is a short run to the double-right-hand Curva di Lesmo, a tricky double corner which requires the use of all of the track. A good exit from the second Lesmo corner is necessary to maximise speed down the bumpy straight leading to Variante Ascari. In 2011, this straight was the first of two DRS zones on the Monza circuit. Ascari is a fast left-right-left chicane where all the run-off is used on exit. This leads to a long straight and a tricky braking point for Curva de Parabolica a parabolic 180° corner with gravel on the outside. A good exit is essential to help with the run to the start-finish line.
Notes
- ↑ Circuit is contracted to be used each year until at least 2016
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