Autodromo Nazionale Monza

Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Location Monza, Italy[1]
Time zone GMT +1
Coordinates 45°37′14″N 9°17′22″E / 45.62056°N 9.28944°E / 45.62056; 9.28944Coordinates: 45°37′14″N 9°17′22″E / 45.62056°N 9.28944°E / 45.62056; 9.28944
Capacity 113,860
FIA Grade 1
Owner Comune di Monza & Milano[1]
Operator SIAS S.p.A.[1]
Broke ground 15 May 1922
Opened 3 September 1922
Architect Alfredo Rosselli
Major events FIA Formula One
Italian Grand Prix
Italian motorcycle Grand Prix, 1000 km Monza, WTCC, SBK, Race of Two Worlds
Modern Grand Prix Circuit
Surface Asphalt
Length 5.793[2][3] km (3.600 mi)
Turns 11
Lap record 1:21.046 (Brazil Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 2004)
Oval
Surface Concrete/Asphalt
Length 4.250[3] km (2.641 mi)
Turns 2
Banking ≈30°
Lap record 0:54.0 (United States Bob Veith, Bowes Seal Fast Special, 1958, IndyCar)
Junior Course
Surface Asphalt
Length 2.405[3] km (1.494 mi)
Combined Course
Surface Asphalt
Length 10.00 km (6.213 mi)
Turns 9
Lap record 2.41.4 (United States Phil Hill, Ferrari, 1960, F1)

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a race track located near the city of Monza, north of Milan, in Italy. The circuit's biggest event is the Formula One Italian Grand Prix. With the exception of 1980, the race has been hosted there since the series's inception.[4]

Built in the Royal Villa of Monza park in a woodland setting,[5] the site has three tracks – the 5.793-kilometre (3.600 mi) Grand Prix track,[2] the 2.405-kilometre (1.494 mi) Junior track,[3] and a 4.250-kilometre (2.641 mi) high speed oval track with steep bankings which has been unused for many decades and is now decaying.[4] The major features of the main Grand Prix track include the Curva Grande, the Curva di Lesmo, the Variante Ascari and the Curva Parabolica. The high speed curve, Curva Grande, is located after the Variante del Rettifilo which is located at the end of the front straight or Rettifilo Tribune, and is usually taken flat out by Formula One cars.

Drivers are on full throttle for most of the lap due to its long straights and fast corners, and is usually the scenario in which the open-wheeled Formula One cars show the raw speed they are capable of--372 kilometres per hour (231 mph) during the mid-2000s V10 engine formula, although in 2012 with the 2.4L V8 engines, top speeds in Formula One rarely reached over 340 kilometres per hour (211 mph); the 1.6L turbocharged hybrid V6 engine, 8-speed gearbox formula of 2014 displayed top speeds of up to 360 kilometres per hour (224 mph). The circuit is generally flat, but has a gradual gradient from the second Lesmos to the Variante Ascari. Due to the low aerodynamic profile needed, with its resulting low downforce,[6] the grip is very low; understeer is a more serious issue than at other circuits; however, the opposite effect, oversteer, is also present in the second sector, requiring the use of a very distinctive opposite lock technique. Since both maximum power and minimal drag are keys for speed on the straights, only competitors with enough power or aerodynamic efficiency at their disposal are able to challenge for the top places.[6]

In addition to Formula One, the circuit hosts an endurance event, the 1000 km Monza, which has been run as part of the World Sportscar Championship and the Le Mans Series. Monza also featured the unique Race of Two Worlds events, which attempted to run Formula One and United States Auto Club National Championship cars against each other, and previously held rounds of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, in the Italian motorcycle Grand Prix. Current major events are races of the World Touring Car Championship and the Superbike World Championship, as well as various local championship races.

The Monza circuit has been the site of many fatal accidents, especially in the early years of the Formula One world championship,[6] and has claimed the lives of 52 drivers and 35 spectators. Track modifications have continuously occurred, to improve spectator safety and reduce curve speeds,[4] but it is still criticised by the current drivers for its lack of run-off areas, most notoriously at the chicane that cuts the Variante della Roggia.[6]

History

Early history

The starting grid of the "1st Cup Fiera di Milano" race held in 1925.
A race in 1925 with cars racing across the bridge.
The Pista di Alta Velocità banking, 2003.

The first track was built from May to July 1922 by 3,500 workers, financed by the Milan Automobile Club[5] – which created the Società Incremento Automobilismo e Sport (SIAS) (English: Motoring and Sport Encouragement Company) to run the track.[7] The initial form was a 3.4 square kilometres (1.31 sq mi) site with 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of macadamised road – comprising a 4.5 kilometres (2.80 mi) loop track, and a 5.5 kilometres (3.42 mi) road track.[5][7] The track was officially opened on 3 September 1922, with the maiden race the second Italian Grand Prix held on 10 September 1922.[7]

In 1928, the most serious Italian racing accident to date[5][6] ended in the death of driver Emilio Materassi and 27 spectators at that year's Grand Prix.[5][6] The accident led to further Grand Prix races confinement to the high-speed loop until 1932.[8] The 1933 race was marked by the deaths of three drivers[7] and the Grand Prix layout was changed, with two chicanes added and the longer straights removed.[9]

There was major rebuilding in 1938–39, constructing new stands and entrances, resurfacing the track, moving portions of the track and adding two new bends.[7][8] The resulting layout gave a Grand Prix lap of 6.300 kilometres (3.91 mi), in use until 1954.[10] The outbreak of World War II meant racing at the track was suspended until 1948[10] and parts of the circuit degraded due to the lack of maintenance.[4] Monza was renovated over a period of two months at the beginning of 1948[7] and a Grand Prix was held on 17 October 1948.[10]

High speed oval

In 1954, work began to entirely revamp the circuit, resulting in a 5.750 kilometres (3.573 mi) course, and a new 4.250 kilometres (2.641 mi) high-speed oval with banked sopraelevata curves.[4][11] The two circuits could be combined to re-create the former 10 kilometres (6.214 mi)[4] long circuit, with cars running parallel on the main straight. The track infrastructure was also updated and improved to better accommodate the teams and spectators.[7][11]

The Automobile Club of Italy held 500-mile (805 km) Race of Two Worlds exhibition competitions, intended to pit United States Auto Club IndyCars against European Formula One and sports cars.[4][11] The races were held on the oval at the end of June in 1957 and 1958,[12] with three 63 lap[13] 267.67 kilometres (166.32 mi) heat races each year, races which colloquially became known as the Monzanapolis series.[12][14] Concerns were raised among the European drivers that flat-out racing on the banking would be too dangerous,[14] so ultimately only Ecurie Ecosse and Maserati represented European racing at the first running.[15] The American teams had brought special Firestone tyres with them, reinforced to withstand high-speed running on the bumpy Monza surface, but the Maseratis' steering was badly affected by the larger-than-usual tyre size, leading to the Modena-based team withdrawal.[15]

Ecurie Ecosse's three Jaguar D-type sports cars used their Le Mans-specification tyres with no ill-effects, but were completely out paced. Two heats in 1957 were won by Jimmy Bryan in his Kuzma-Offenhauser Dean Van Lines Special,[15][16] and the last by Troy Ruttman in the Watson-Offenhauser John Zink Special.[17] In 1958, works Jaguar, Ferrari and Maserati teams appeared alongside the Indy roadsters,[11][18] but once again the American cars dominated the event and Jim Rathmann won the three races in a Watson-Offenhauser car.[12]

Formula One used the 10 kilometres (6.214 mi) high speed track in the 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1961 Grands Prix.[4][11] Stirling Moss and Phil Hill both won twice in this period, with Hill's win at Monza making him the first American to win a Formula One race.[19] The 1961 race saw the death of Wolfgang von Trips and fifteen spectators when a collision with Jim Clark's Lotus sent von Trips' car airborne and into the barriers on Parabolica.[7][19]

Although the accident did not occur on the oval section of the track, the high speeds were deemed unsafe and F1 use of the oval was ended;[20] future Grands Prix were held on the shorter road circuit,[11] with the banking appearing one last time in the film Grand Prix.[20] New safety walls, rails and fences were added before the next race and the refuelling area was moved further from the track. Chicanes were added before both bankings in 1966, and another fatality in the 1968 1000 km Monza race led to run-off areas added to the curves, with the track layout changing the next year to incorporate permanent chicanes before the banked curves – extending the track length by 100 metres (328 ft).[11]

The banking held the last race in 1969 with the 1000 km of Monza, the event moving to the road circuit the next year.[11] The banking still exists, albeit in a decayed state in the years since the last race, escaping demolition in the 1990s. It is used once a year for the Monza Rally.[20] The banked oval was used several times for record breaking up till the late 1960s although the severe bumping was a major suspension and tyre test for the production cars attempting the records.e.g. Ford Corsair GT 1964 which captured 13 records.[21]

Circuit changes and modernisation

Both car and Grand Prix motorcycle racing were regular attractions at Monza,[11] but as the speed of the machines were increasing, two chicanes- the Variante del Rettifilo at the middle of the start/finish straight,[22] and the Variante Ascari, were added in 1972 to reduce racing speeds.[7] This resulted in a new circuit length of 5.755 kilometres (3.576 mi).[22] Grand Prix motorcycles continued to use the un-slowed road track until two serious accidents resulted in five deaths, including Renzo Pasolini and Jarno Saarinen,[22] in 1973, and motorcycle racing did not return to Monza until 1981.[22] These races involved drivers constantly slipstreaming competing cars, which produced several close finishes, such as in 1967, 1969, and 1971; the last year the Italian Grand Prix was run at Monza without chicanes.

The 1972 chicanes were soon seen to be ineffective at slowing cars; the Vialone was remade in 1974,[22] the other, Curva Grande in 1976,[7] and a third also added in 1976 before the Lesmo, with extended run-off areas.[22] The Grand Prix lap after these alterations was increased to 5.800 kilometres (3.604 mi) long.[22]

With technology still increasing vehicle speeds the track was modified again in 1979, with added kerbs, extended run-off areas, and tyre-barriers improved, to improve safety for drivers off the track.[23] The infrastructure was also improved, with pits able to accommodate 46 cars, and an upgraded paddock and scrutineering facilities.[23] These changes encouraged world championship motorcycling to return in 1981, but further safety work was undertaken through the 1980s.[23] Also in the 1980s the podium, paddock and pits complex, stands,[23][24] and camp site were either rebuilt or improved.[7]

In the safety conscious years following the death of Ayrton Senna in 1994 (albeit at a different track), the three main long curves were "squeezed" in order to install larger gravel traps, shortening the lap to 5.770 kilometres (3.585 mi).[24] In 1997 the stands were reworked to expand capacity to 51,000.[24] In 2000, the chicane on the main straight was altered, changing from a double left-right chicane to a single right-left chicane in an attempt to reduce the frequent accidents at the starts due to the conformation of the braking area, although it is still deemed unsafe in terms of motorcycle racing. The second chicane was also re-profiled. In the Formula 1 Grand Prix of the same year, the first to use these new chicanes, a marshal, Paolo Gislimberti, was killed by flying debris after a big pileup in the third chicane.[6]

In 2007, the run off area at the second chicane was changed from gravel to asphalt. The length of the track in its current configuration is 5.793 kilometres (3.600 mi).[2] At the 2010 Monza Superbike World Championship round, Italian rider Max Biaggi set the fastest ever motorcycle lap of Monza when he rode his Aprilia RSV4 1000 F to pole position in a time of 1:42.121. In the Superpole qualification for the 2011 race, he improved on this lap time, for a new lap record of 1:41.745 and his speed was captured at 205+ MPH.

A lap of the circuit in a Formula One car

The 1120 metre start/finish straight.[25]

Monza consists of very long straights and tight chicanes, putting a premium on good braking stability and traction. The 5.793 kilometres (3.600 mi)[2] circuit is very hard on gearboxes, with many gear changes per lap. Formula 1 engines are at full throttle for nearly 80% of the lap, with engine failures common, notably Fernando Alonso in the 2006 Italian Grand Prix.

Formula One cars are set up with one of the smallest wing angles on the F1 calendar to ensure the lowest level of drag on the straights. There are only 4 proper corners at Monza, the two Lesmos, the Ascari complex and the Parabolica, thus cars are set up for maximum performance on the straights.

Cars approach the first corner at 340 kilometres per hour (210 mph) in seventh gear,[2] and brake at about 120 metres (390 ft) before the first chicane – the Variante del Rettifilo – entering at 86 kilometres per hour (53 mph) in first gear, and exiting at 74 kilometres per hour (46 mph) in second gear.[2] This is the scene of many first lap accidents. Higher kerbs were installed at the first two chicanes in 2009 to prevent cutting.[26]

Good traction out of the first corner is imperative for a quick lap. Conservation of speed through the first chicane is made possible by driving the straightest line, as a small mistake here can result in a lot of time being lost through the Curva Grande down to the Variante della Roggia chicane in seventh gear, at 330 kilometres per hour (210 mph).[2] The braking point is just under the bridge. The kerbs are very vicious and it is very easy for a car to become unbalanced and a driver to lose control, as Kimi Räikkönen did in 2005. This chicane is probably the best overtaking chance on the lap, as it is the only one with the "slow corner, long straight, slow corner"; one of the characteristics of modern circuits.

An aerial photo of the Autodoromo of Monza with the village of Villasanta in the upper part. The city of Monza is southwards off to the right of the photo.

The Curve di Lesmo are two corners that are not as fast as they used to be, but are still challenging corners. The first is blind, entered at 264 kilometres per hour (164 mph) in fifth gear, dropping to fourth gear at 193 kilometres per hour (120 mph),[2] and has a slight banking. The second is a fifth gear entry at 260 kilometres per hour (160 mph), apexing in third gear at 178 kilometres per hour (111 mph),[2] and it is very important that all the kerb is used. A mistake at one of these corners will result either in a spin into the gravel or an overtaking move into Variante Ascari.

The downhill straight down to Variante Ascari is very bumpy under the bridge. Variante Ascari is a very tricky sequence of corners and is key to the lap time.

The final challenge is the Curva Parabolica: approaching at 335 kilometres per hour (208 mph) in seventh gear,[2] cars quickly dance around the corner, apexing in fourth gear at 215 kilometres per hour (134 mph)[2] and exiting in fifth gear at 285 kilometres per hour (177 mph),[2] accelerating onto the main start/finish straight. A good exit and slipstream off a fellow driver along the main straight can produce an overtaking opportunity under heavy braking into Variante del Rettifilio; however, it is difficult to follow a leading car closely through the Parabolica as the tow will reduce downforce and cornering speed.

Maximum speed achieved in a 2009 Formula One car is 340 kilometres per hour (210 mph), achieved at the end of the start/finish straight.[2] They experience a maximum g-force of 3.80 through turn 7, the second Lesmo.[2]

Rubens Barrichello recorded the fastest ever pole position lap at Monza in 2004 when he lapped in 1m20.089s, 161.802 mph. But in the pre-qualifying session for the same race (which did not count for a grid position but only Q-running order), Juan Pablo Montoya lapped the track in 1m19.525s (162.949 mph) which remains the fastest lap ever recorded in an F1 car.[27]

Deaths from crashes

Previous track configurations

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Autodromo Nazionale Monza – Company profile". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Formula 1 Gran Premio Santander D'Italia 2009 (Monza) – interactive circuit map". Formula One Administration Ltd. Formula1.com. 1999–2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Autodromo Nazionale Monza – Areas & Structures". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "The hidden history of the Monza banking". Formula One Administration Ltd. Formula1.com. 30 August 2005. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1922–1928: Construction and first races on the original tracks". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Fórmula 1: los pilotos tienen miedo por la seguridad en Monza" [Formula 1: the drivers are afraid for safety at Monza] (in Spanish). Clairín.com. 5 September 2006. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Autodromo Nazionale di Monza – History". The Formula One DataBase. F1db.com. 6 April 2005. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  8. 1 2 3 "1929–1939: In consequence of the Materassi's accident, races are run on the alternative tracks". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "8W – When? – 1933 Monza GP, "Black Sunday"". Forix.autosport.com. May 2001. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  10. 1 2 3 "1940–1954: After the war interruption, the activity starts again in 1948". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "1955–1971: Construction of the high speed track and other important works". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  12. 1 2 3 "Autodromo Nazionale di Monza". ChampCarStats.com. 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  13. ↑ "1958 500 Miglia di Monza Heat 1". ChampCarStats.com. 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  14. 1 2 "History of Monza GP". About Milan. Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
  15. 1 2 3 "1957 500 Miglia di Monza Heat 1". ChampCarStats.com. 2009. Archived from the original on 13 October 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  16. ↑ "500 Miglia di Monza Heat 2". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  17. ↑ "500 Miglia di Monza Heat 3". ChampCarStats.com. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  18. ↑ "1958 500 Miglia di Monza Heat 2". ChampCarStats.com. 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  19. 1 2 "A history of the Italian Grand Prix". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration Ltd. 8 September 2004. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  20. 1 2 3 "The hidden history of the Monza banking". Formula1.com. Formula One Administration Ltd. 30 August 2005. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
  21. ↑ Monza year Book 1965
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "1972–1978: Chicane and variants to reduce the high speed". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "1979–1988: New works to update the circuit". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  24. 1 2 3 "1989–1997: New pit complex and the interventions for the security". Autodromo Nazionale Monza. MonzaNet.it. 2007. Archived from the original on 13 April 2008. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  25. ↑ "McLaren Formula 1 - 2015 Italian Grand Prix Preview". McLaren. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  26. ↑ "Bigger kerbs installed for Monza chicanes". formula 1.com. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  27. ↑ "Monza facts and stats – Feature – F1 | ITV Sport". Itv-f1.com. 4 September 2006. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  28. ↑ "Grand Prix death casts doubt over Monza circuit". CNN. 11 September 2000. Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 22 February 2016.

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