A perfect mix of passion and Formula 1 history: this is the mixture that once again explains the success of Historic Minardi Day, now in its seventh edition. A success certified by the attendance figures, as many as 14,000 over the two days, despite less than ideal temperatures.
The Historic Minardi Day was therefore confirmed as one of the reference events in the calendar of the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo and Dino Ferrari. Despite the high temperatures that exceeded 40 degrees, the spectacle was not lacking with fans who filled, with great respect for the insiders, the paddock, the pits and the terrace to live as protagonists over 50 years of Motorsport.
An epic told through the record attendance of 485 authentic works of art from Formula 1, F2, F3000, Prototypes, F. Junior, GT, historic cars from the Scuderia del Portello Dynamic Museum, Scuderia Tazio Nuvolari, the Italian Alfa Romeo Registry and the Aci Storico Festival’s Terre di Romagna “100 years Circuito del Savio” rally, along with Pagani, Alpine, Lamborghini, Dallara and Pambuffetti-branded technology and elegance; meeting Motorsport champions including Riccardo Patrese, Emanuele Pirro, Gianni Morbidelli who took to the track at the wheel of Pierluigi Martini’s Minardi M189, Thierry Boutsen at the wheel of Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari 312 T5, Laurent Redon, Arturo Merzario, Carlo Facetti and Miguel Angel Guerra at the wheel of the March 761 ex-Vittorio Brambilla, Siegfried Stohr, Thomas Biagi, Giovanni Lavaggi, Engineers Aldo Costa, Gabriele Tredozi and Laurent Mekies, Giovanna Amati, Roberto Farneti, Beppe Gabbiani, Fabio Babini, Francesco Bergami, Angelo Ancherani, Benito Battilani, Gabriele Lancieri, Gianni Giudici, Giorgio Francia, Giovanni Lavaggi, Luca Badoer, Massimo Ciccozzi, Niccolò Piancastelli, Paolo Delle Piane, Roberto Farneti, Roberto Ravagia, Sergio Campana and Ferrante Ponti; young Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Brando Badoer and Alister Yoong. Ms. Brenda Vernon, Enzo Ferrari’s secretary; well-known cartoonist and cartoonist “Matitaccia” Giorgio Serra; and Davide Cassani current President of Apt Servizi, were also among the protagonists.
There were numerous exciting moments including the presentation of the 2nd Nando Minardi Memorial to Miguel Angel Guerra, the first driver to race under the guise of the Minardi Team, protagonist of the 1980 Formula 2 Championship with the GM75; Jacopo Martini, son of Giancarlo Martini, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the title won in Formula Italia by his father Giancarlo with the Scuderia del Passatore; Japanese Sugahara Akira Sugahara as the most distant Minardi collector; Mario Donnini journalist of Autosprint who was presented with the 18th Michele Award, established in 2006 by LMMFC (Le Mans Model Fan Club) in honor of Michele Alboreto.
As per tradition, concluding the two-day Historic Minardi Day were the historic cars featured in the Raduno Terre di Romagna “100 anni Circuito del Savio,” a day entirely dedicated to passion, culture and the territory aimed at celebrating the centenary of the Circuito del Savio. Departing from the Imola racetrack, the convoy drove through the Romagna countryside, passing through Lugo and Ravenna, parading through Piazza del Popolo in Ravenna, also covering a section of the original circuit, departing in the afternoon from the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare in Classe, and then returning to the track with the event’s closing parade.
Gian Carlo Minardi (Formula Imola President): “Once again this year we cannot but be satisfied with the result obtained. Beyond the number of attendees, which obviously certify whether an event is a success or not, what I would like to emphasize is the great passion that Historic Minardi Day continues to generate edition after edition. A passion that we continue to see also in the new generations, because there were many young people present who browsed in the pits and admired the many cars that have written the history of motorsport. This result is also a nice sign for the economic result generated in the area, with the accommodation facilities that benefited from the presence of more than 3,000 professionals, with a full house in Imola and the surrounding area. As for the event specifically, there was a program of events to satisfy the palate of every enthusiast, with book presentations, the not-to-be-missed exhibition at the Checco Costa Museum, and the Terre di Romagna historical rally in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Savio Circuit. Let me conclude as always with thanks: to my brother Giuseppe and my niece Elena, who have put heart and soul into the organization as always and who are already at work for the next edition; to the staff of Formula Imola, which as usual has shown great professionalism and passion; to the mayor of Imola Marco Panieri and the President of Con. Ami Fabio Bacchilega, with whom we work in full harmony; to the President of the Region Stefano Bonaccini and the Undersecretary to the Presidency Giammaria Manghi, who support us with great participation; and finally to ACI President Angelo Sticchi Damiani, whose presence and compliments gave me great pleasure.”