Imola worth a visit?
Discussion
Imola
Did the same type of trip last year with Pistenclub days at Imola and Mugello. As you're making the investment to get all the way to Mugello it would be crazy not to visit Imola - it's so close.
Spa is much closer and there are always plenty of track days there so it would be easy to visit in the future. I think on balance Spa is a better circuit but i would make the most of the opportunity to go to Imola
In terms of the circuit I thought it was stunning, definitely had an 'old school' feel to it... a couple of places felt a bit artificial where the circuit has been slowed down for safety reasons but Acqua Minerali and Rivazza are still very special!
Are you driving down? Can recommend some Swiss passes en route
Did the same type of trip last year with Pistenclub days at Imola and Mugello. As you're making the investment to get all the way to Mugello it would be crazy not to visit Imola - it's so close.
Spa is much closer and there are always plenty of track days there so it would be easy to visit in the future. I think on balance Spa is a better circuit but i would make the most of the opportunity to go to Imola
In terms of the circuit I thought it was stunning, definitely had an 'old school' feel to it... a couple of places felt a bit artificial where the circuit has been slowed down for safety reasons but Acqua Minerali and Rivazza are still very special!
Are you driving down? Can recommend some Swiss passes en route
If you visit Imola you cannot fail to be moved by at least one element of the history - the Senna 'shrine' at Tamburello.
I've never driven the circuit but have driven to it twice (and walked pretty much all of the infield) to watch the F1 in the mid 90s and it looks like a very entertaining drive, as it has some nice gradients because the back of the circuit is at a much higher elevation than the pits.
However, in terms of comparisons with Spa (which I have driven), the latter wins hands down on size, drama and technical challenge.
I've never driven the circuit but have driven to it twice (and walked pretty much all of the infield) to watch the F1 in the mid 90s and it looks like a very entertaining drive, as it has some nice gradients because the back of the circuit is at a much higher elevation than the pits.
However, in terms of comparisons with Spa (which I have driven), the latter wins hands down on size, drama and technical challenge.
Thanks for your comments, food for thought certainly. In many ways I agree, if I am already in Italy then why not..
We have rented a house near Cortona for two weeks so there's the "family thing" to consider as well.. These trackdays are a few days apart so there would be some extra road driving to be done because of that.
I have driven the Spa several times and it's just that good.. I had technical problems there last time so would be eager to get there again and do some lapping.. Oh well, I may have to consider the possibility of doing them all.
Anyone here going there in June?
We have rented a house near Cortona for two weeks so there's the "family thing" to consider as well.. These trackdays are a few days apart so there would be some extra road driving to be done because of that.
I have driven the Spa several times and it's just that good.. I had technical problems there last time so would be eager to get there again and do some lapping.. Oh well, I may have to consider the possibility of doing them all.
Anyone here going there in June?
Edited by JarmoL on Thursday 31st March 18:12
Well.. It was a long journey but totally worth it. I did ca. 6000 km's alltogether. Longest stint was from Adenau to Cortona, 1180 km's. It took me 13 hours. An old GT3 with Manthey exhaust and setup is not the most comfortable companion on the road.;)
First took a ferry from Helsinki to Travemunde. Then to Adenau for few days for TF and a Trackday. The weather wasn't the best so didn't do many serious laps there. It was a pity as we had hired Markus Palttala to coach us.
After that it was to Italy and Cortona. We (two families) had hired a lovely place for two weeks just a few km's from Cortona. Families flew to Rome and rented cars there.
After a few relaxing days by the pool it was time to do some driving again. So I went to Mugello, there was a Pistenclub trackday. What a challenging track that is. Beautifull scenery as well. I had hard time learning the track in just one day. I feel I didn't get anywhere near the limits. I think my fastest lap was 2.15 or so.
https://youtu.be/ZCrrZ8IApvc
After a couple of days it was off to Imola. I have to say Imola was just fantastic! I knew the layout pretty well from PC sims I used to play. So it was easier to get into the groove. Quite hard track for a car but just magnificent to drive. Beautiful park inside the track and the Senna memorial of course. But no 98 octane fuel anywhere! Just 95, I was really surprised because of that. Anyway my fastest lap was 2.05.
https://youtu.be/qov9BTY0DYs
Alltogether nicely organized trackdays from Pistenclub. Street and race cars had their own sessions so you "had to" have some rest between them. I like it that way.
Finally it was time to start the journey back home. I visited Maranello and Ferrari museum on my way to north. Also spent a night just before St. Gotthard tunnel. Next morning I took it to the Alps. I did three passes; Gotthard, Furka and Grimsel. Unfortunately the weather was cloudy and foggy so I really didn't see the breathtaking scenery up there.
From Switzerland it was back to Nurburg for some TF action for two days. After that I just "had" to go to Spa, there was a Racetrack 4 you trackday in there. Beautiful weather for a change, not too many cars on a track so I got my expectations high. I had a clear vision going under 2.50 this time. I managed couple of sessions, laptimes tumbling down and feeling great.. And then the bloody clutch broke.
(again) Yes, it did broke a year before as well and at Spa as well.. So I had to leave early. I managed just 2.52 for my fastest lap.
https://youtu.be/qa-l8r45b6M
So I took the car to Nurburg and had the workshop diagnose the problem. The main reason for the damage turned out to be a broken or worn bearings on the mainshaft of the gearbox. Too bad the (maybe already) failing bearing(s) wasn't noticed a year ago when the clutch went for first time.
Anyway, now the gearbox had to be fixed so I decided to fly home to Finland. It took just under two weeks when I got a call that the car is ready. I booked a flight and a Schnelleswaben trackday at the Ring and off I was. It turned out to be a very nice day, weather was just perfect. I was little clumsy with my heel and toe with everything new in the clutch but other than that it was great to get some dry laps at the Ring. My best of the day was 7.41 BTG.
https://youtu.be/rCEEsm0INE0
So, in the end it turned out to be a longer and (a lot) more expensive holiday I thought it would be. And I have to do some more maintenance still.. Just noticed the right hand side exhaust primaries have some small cracks in them. They are getting old and brittle from heat and vibrations I think. Also fitting new Girodisc floating rotors front and back.
Before I stop I just have to show you this picture from Imola. What a great little track!! Thanks guys for showing me the right way!
First took a ferry from Helsinki to Travemunde. Then to Adenau for few days for TF and a Trackday. The weather wasn't the best so didn't do many serious laps there. It was a pity as we had hired Markus Palttala to coach us.
After that it was to Italy and Cortona. We (two families) had hired a lovely place for two weeks just a few km's from Cortona. Families flew to Rome and rented cars there.
After a few relaxing days by the pool it was time to do some driving again. So I went to Mugello, there was a Pistenclub trackday. What a challenging track that is. Beautifull scenery as well. I had hard time learning the track in just one day. I feel I didn't get anywhere near the limits. I think my fastest lap was 2.15 or so.
https://youtu.be/ZCrrZ8IApvc
After a couple of days it was off to Imola. I have to say Imola was just fantastic! I knew the layout pretty well from PC sims I used to play. So it was easier to get into the groove. Quite hard track for a car but just magnificent to drive. Beautiful park inside the track and the Senna memorial of course. But no 98 octane fuel anywhere! Just 95, I was really surprised because of that. Anyway my fastest lap was 2.05.
https://youtu.be/qov9BTY0DYs
Alltogether nicely organized trackdays from Pistenclub. Street and race cars had their own sessions so you "had to" have some rest between them. I like it that way.
Finally it was time to start the journey back home. I visited Maranello and Ferrari museum on my way to north. Also spent a night just before St. Gotthard tunnel. Next morning I took it to the Alps. I did three passes; Gotthard, Furka and Grimsel. Unfortunately the weather was cloudy and foggy so I really didn't see the breathtaking scenery up there.
From Switzerland it was back to Nurburg for some TF action for two days. After that I just "had" to go to Spa, there was a Racetrack 4 you trackday in there. Beautiful weather for a change, not too many cars on a track so I got my expectations high. I had a clear vision going under 2.50 this time. I managed couple of sessions, laptimes tumbling down and feeling great.. And then the bloody clutch broke.
(again) Yes, it did broke a year before as well and at Spa as well.. So I had to leave early. I managed just 2.52 for my fastest lap.https://youtu.be/qa-l8r45b6M
So I took the car to Nurburg and had the workshop diagnose the problem. The main reason for the damage turned out to be a broken or worn bearings on the mainshaft of the gearbox. Too bad the (maybe already) failing bearing(s) wasn't noticed a year ago when the clutch went for first time.
Anyway, now the gearbox had to be fixed so I decided to fly home to Finland. It took just under two weeks when I got a call that the car is ready. I booked a flight and a Schnelleswaben trackday at the Ring and off I was. It turned out to be a very nice day, weather was just perfect. I was little clumsy with my heel and toe with everything new in the clutch but other than that it was great to get some dry laps at the Ring. My best of the day was 7.41 BTG.
https://youtu.be/rCEEsm0INE0
So, in the end it turned out to be a longer and (a lot) more expensive holiday I thought it would be. And I have to do some more maintenance still.. Just noticed the right hand side exhaust primaries have some small cracks in them. They are getting old and brittle from heat and vibrations I think. Also fitting new Girodisc floating rotors front and back.
Before I stop I just have to show you this picture from Imola. What a great little track!! Thanks guys for showing me the right way!
Will book mark this and take a look at the videos. NIce shot there!
It's bad luck with the gearbox, but I'm told they can cause issues on 996 and 997 cars (my turbo needed work), including both turbo and GT models, so getting it fixed properly is, hopefully, a job well done and one that won't need repeating soon.
It's bad luck with the gearbox, but I'm told they can cause issues on 996 and 997 cars (my turbo needed work), including both turbo and GT models, so getting it fixed properly is, hopefully, a job well done and one that won't need repeating soon.
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