Monza, Italy, is everything Italian and is steeped in Formula One history. However this weekend we head further south for the Tuscany F1 Grand Prix at the Mugello Circuit.
In central Italy lies the region of Tuscany known for its art, history, landscapes, culture and also regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Scarperia e San Piero may be known for the production of knives and the home of the La Marzocco Espresso coffee machine company but it is best known for the Mugello Circuit and is home to the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix. However, the oddities of 2020 will now add to its history with the Tuscany F1 Grand Prix to take place this weekend. It will be the first F1 race at the circuit and a momentous occassion as Scuderia Ferrari will celebrate its 1,000 Grand Prix.
As with many circuits, racing started back in the early 1920s on public roads around Mugello. This eventually became a Targa-Florio type of road race consisting eight laps of a 66.2km circuit which passed through a number of towns in the region.
It was the event in 1970 that brought about its demise when a local driver, Spartaco Dini, crashed his Alfa Romeo GTA into a group of people in a village while testing on open roads. A death and several serious injuries saw Dini spend two months in prison and the event come to an end, now with a damaged reputation.
Hence, a permanent closed Mugello circuit opened in 1974 which regularly held Formula 2 and Formula 3000 rounds through to 2000.
It has been through motorcycling that Mugello has gained its legendary reputation, holding the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix annually since 1994.
The circuit was used for the in-season test during the 2012 Formula One season, by all teams except HRT, with an unofficial track record of 1:21.035 set by Romain Grosjean.
Gauging the current F1 drivers excitement heading to Mugello, it may quickly become their favourite circuit of the season.
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