Imola GP gets green light amidst heavy storms in the Bologna region, brings back memories of tragic past
Despite being hit by heavy storms, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will go on as planned.
Follow Us
Max Verstappen leads a wet Emilia Romagna GP in 2022 (Credits: Sporting News)
Despite the recent heavy storms that battered the Imola area of Italy, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix will take place as planned. The storm delivered severe rains that caused flooding and landslides, forcing 250 people to evacuate and killing two individuals, including an elderly man. The race will be held at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola from May 18 to 21.
A spokesperson for the Imola confirmed that the storm did not cause any disruption to the track or the event. “We confirm that, at the moment, the storms that hit our region this week haven’t caused any disruption to our track and to the event,” the spokesperson told the media.
AlphaTauri’s base is located in the Fazena area, which was directly impacted by the storm. The team sent out a statement expressing their support for those affected, including some of their staff members. The statement read, “The city of Faenza, which is home to our Scuderia AlphaTauri factory, and other parts of the Emilia-Romagna region have been hit by a violent rain storm…It has also affected some of our employees and, at this difficult time, our thoughts are with them and everyone affected.”
Given the track’s tragic past, is it wise to hold races under unfavorable conditions?
The Imola track has a dark history that has cast a shadow over the sport. The race at Imola was called the San Marino Grand Prix back in 1981 to 2006 and the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix, held at Imola, saw the tragic loss of two drivers – Ayrton Senna and Roland Ratzenberger. Senna’s death was the first fatal accident in F1 since 1986 and was a turning point in the sport’s focus on safety.
In the last two years, the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix has been held in wet conditions, and accidents have followed. In 2021, George Russell and Valtteri Bottas collided at the Tamburello Chicane, where Senna tragically lost his life. The impact generated a force of 30G, and Bottas’ car was destroyed. Max Verstappen has won the last two years’ races in similar conditions, with multiple drivers struggling to keep their cars on the track.
In conclusion, the Imola Grand Prix is set to go ahead as planned despite the severe storms that hit the Emilia-Romagna region. While the event’s spokesperson confirmed that the storms did not cause any disruption to the track, the recent history of accidents in wet conditions raises concerns over the sport’s safety. With the tragic loss of two drivers in 1994 still fresh in the minds of many, it is essential to prioritize safety and ensure that the race goes ahead without incident.
In case you missed it:
- ‘Only us in our little bubble can understand,’ Lewis Hamilton sheds light on his friendship with Serena Williams and Tom Brady
- “You better be joking,” Furious fans bash makeup brand Tarte for arranging free Miami GP trip for TikTok influencers.
Stay Updated!
Rohit Bhaskar
(727 Articles Published)