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8th SPECIAL RALLY CIRCUIT BY VEDOVATI CORSE: 79 TEAMS AT THE START

A total of 79 teams took part in the scrutineering today for the 8th Special Rally Circuit by Vedovati Corse at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. Among the entries are 15 teams in the Over 55 category, 6 Under 25, 3 Under 18, and an equal number of female teams. Of the cars entered, 29 are Rally 4, along with three WRC Plus and one WRC 2000, all Citroën: the first three are driven by the teams Zambon-Romei, Zanasio-Brusa, and Sabbatini-Pasini, while the WRC 2000 features Swiss drivers Puricelli-Menchini.

Mauro Miele will drive the Skoda Fabia for BlueThunder Racing. Miele made history as the first Italian to win the Motocross World Championship in 1979, and more recently, he claimed the WRC2 World Championship in 2022. Piero Longhi, meanwhile, will co-drive for Stefano Ruoppolo in the Skoda Fabia Evo of PA Racing.

In the female category, Sara Carra stands out. The runner-up in the 2024 Italian Rally Championship Women's Cup will co-drive for Under 18 Luca Di Marco in a Renault Clio from the Casarano Rally Team.

Also taking part is Venetian driver Filippo Barberi, a key figure in TCR Italy and winner of a TCR Spain event with the Audi RS3 of Aikoa Racing. He will be behind the wheel of a Skoda Fabia for the same team.

Today was dedicated to free practice and the Shakedown session. Tomorrow, Sunday, November 17, the event will feature four Special Stages, all on asphalt, covering a total of 86.8 kilometers of timed stages, starting at 8:31 AM and concluding at 4:30 PM.

Entry to the circuit and paddock is free, with paid parking available on Sunday.

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LAST STOP OF THE ACI RACING WEEKEND IN MONZA: FREE ENTRY TO THE GRANDSTANDS AND PADDOCK FOR THE PUBLIC

The Temple of Speed is ready to ignite once again: from 25 to 27 October 2024, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza will be the stage for the season finale of the ACI Racing Weekend, an event open to the public with free access to the stands and paddock to experience the adrenaline of the final, decisive challenges on the track. This unmissable last weekend of October will see the assignment of the tricolor titles in the Italian Gran Turismo Endurance Championship , which will culminate with the spectacular and eagerly awaited 3 Hours of Monza. Fans will be able to cheer on the protagonists of the GT3 class, with top crews such as Cazzaniga-Di Folco-Liberati in a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and Fisichella-Leclerc-Mosca in a Ferrari 296 GT3, ready to battle it out to win the title. The action on the track doesn't stop there: the ACI Racing Weekend will also see the future champions of international motorsport compete in the Italian F4 Championship . Spectacle guaranteed with the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine , where the new champion Rafael Camara will surely be the protagonist of a final seasonal test, together with over 30 drivers of the European series. Everything is still to be decided, however, in the TCR Italy , TCR DSG where Nicola Baldan and Luca Franca are in the lead, and in the Italian Sport Prototype Championship , which sees the multiple champion Davide Uboldi in the lead. A finale to be experienced, which promises spectacle and excitement until the last lap. The “ Monza Circuit ” App will offer visitors details on grandstands, refreshment points and all the information necessary to participate in the activities planned for this eagerly awaited race weekend.

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OCTOBER OF SPEED IN MONZA: SEASON FINALE FOR THE GT OPEN INTERNATIONAL SERIES AND ACI RACING WEEKEND

The Autodromo Nazionale Monza will host two major season finales: the first round of the GT Open International Series, between 18 and 20 October, and the final stage of the ACI Racing Weekend, from 25 to 27 October.

Monza will be decisive in assigning the drivers' and teams' titles of the International GT Open, which will see the teams compete in a spectacular 500 km race, the second of this season after the one held on the Belgian circuit of Spa Francorchamps.

Vincent Abril and Nicola Marinangeli with their Ferrari 296 GT3 of Spirit of Race are third in the general classification, just 12 points behind the two main candidates, tied with 100 points: Simon Reicher-Christopher Haase with the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II and Alessio Deledda-Jordan Pepper with the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2. The Euroformula Open and the GT Cup Europe will also be season finales. Also on the track are the Alpine Elf Europa Cup and Clio Cup Series single-make trophies.

In the Temple of Speed, the season finale of the ACI Racing Weekend will crown the Italian champions of the Italian Gran Turismo Endurance Championship with the eagerly awaited 3 hours of Brianza. Among the contenders for the title in the GT3 class, the Cazzaniga-Di Folco-Liberati crews on a Lamborghini Huracan GT3 and Fisichella-Leclerc-Mosca on a Ferrari 296 GT3 stand out. On the track, the final catwalk for the new champion of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine Rafael Camara, while the season finale will be all to be decided for the Italian F4 Championship, the TCR Italy and the Italian Sports Prototype Championship.

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THE SPECIAL RALLY CIRCUIT BY VEDOVATI IS BACK ON TRACK: SEE YOU ON 16 AND 17 NOVEMBER

The eighth edition of the Special Rally Circuit is upon us. Once again, Vedovati Corse is focusing its efforts on the end-of-season event dedicated to the most famous of track rallies, inside the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The Temple of Speed is the center of attention, as the long restyling works on the facility will also give rally drivers the chance to enjoy the new asphalt, just like the Formula One protagonists.

The race format will be the same as last year, although concentrated in just two days. It will begin with reconnaissance on Saturday morning, followed by sports and technical checks. The afternoon will be dedicated to two thirty-minute free practice sessions, before two shakedown sessions.

The special stages of the race will be four as usual but will be longer than in the past by over five kilometers - two 23.780 km passages of Ps Vedovati and two 19.620 km of Special Vedovati - e will develop a total of 86.880 kilometers of special stages. In both stages the starting position has changed and passages have been added to variants 9 (on all the stages), 5 and Junior (Ps2-4).

Registrations will open on Friday 18 October and will close on Wednesday 6 November.

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FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2024: SUNDAY 1 SEPTEMBER

Stunning victory for Ferrari at Monza with Charles Leclerc in the 2024 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix: the Monegasque driver, using a one-stop strategy, crossed the finish line ahead of the McLaren of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. The other Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz, finished fourth. Monza celebrated not only the success of the Maranello team but also a record attendance: over 335,000 spectators.

"This extraordinary crowd deserved a Ferrari victory, and Charles Leclerc delivered it" commented Angelo Sticchi Damiani, President of the Automobile Club d’Italia, who presented the podium awards along with the Undersecretary of State at the MEF, Federico Freni, the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana, and Pirelli’s Executive Vice President, Marco Tronchetti Provera. "The explosion of joy, not seen since 2019, was a testament to the strong desire to express this great enthusiasm for a victory that certainly reopens the World Championship. All of this gives us hope that in the final stretch of the season, the results will be consistent with this victory. The Automobile Club d’Italia (Federation of Motor Sport) and Italian motorsport embrace Charles Leclerc with much affection and enthusiasm, as he returns to his 2019 form."

"In this joyful weekend, I also highlight the record attendance, rewarded by this splendid victory, which also served as a celebration of the new track," added the ACI President. "The track showed its qualities, allowing Leclerc, for example, to complete 38 laps on the same tires. This was certainly thanks to Charles' extraordinary driving and perhaps also to the track surface. Finally, I congratulate Leonardo Fornaroli for winning the Formula 3 championship."

Formula 3: Fornaroli third and champion. Minì disqualified

By finishing third in the Monza Feature Race, Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident) was crowned Formula 3 champion: a podium secured on the final lap with an overtaking move on Christian Mansell. That maneuver rendered the second place of a very competitive Gabriele Minì (Prema Racing) meaningless in terms of the standings. However, the ACI Team Italia driver was later removed from the results due to a technical irregularity (tire pressure). The race win went to the Frenchman Sami Meguetounif (Trident).

Fornaroli, who will turn 20 on December 3rd, won the championship without securing a race victory. "We finally managed to win this blessed title," commented Fornaroli after the race. "It wasn’t a perfect race because I made several mistakes and didn’t manage the tires well. I knew the only way to win the title was to pass Mansell. I approached the last corner thinking, 'It's all or nothing.' He was fair, gave me enough space, and I managed to pass. I want to thank Trident, my family, sponsors, trainer, and coach. There are no words to describe all of this."

"Obviously, I’m a bit disappointed not to have brought home the title," Minì commented before the disqualification, "but finishing second was what I needed to try to win. I gave it my all, and I’m very happy with that. I want to thank my team, Alpine, ACI, sponsors, my family, and everyone who supported me this season."

Formula 2: Bortoleto wins. Antonelli just off the podium

The Formula 2 race was won by the Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto (Invicta Racing), who pulled off an incredible feat after starting last. Kimi Antonelli (Prema) finished fourth. "It was a pretty complicated race," explained the Bologna-born driver of ACI Team Italia, who will race in F1 with Mercedes next year. "A lot happened, and it’s a shame about the Safety Car because the podium was within my reach. In the end, I’m happy; the pace was good. Now I’m thinking about Baku."

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FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D'ITALIA 2024: SATURDAY 31 AUGUST

Lando Norris, winner last week in Holland, will start tomorrow in pole position in the 2024 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix, which will begin at 3:00 PM (53 laps to go): the English McLaren driver stopped the clock at 1’19″327, with an average speed of 262.896 km/h. Next to him on the front row will be his teammate, Oscar Piastri. The Australian clocked in at 1’19″436.

On the second row are George Russell with the first Mercedes (1’19″440) and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc (1’19″461). On the third row are the other Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz (1’19″467) and his successor in red: Lewis Hamilton with the second Mercedes (1’19″513). Seventh fastest was the three-time world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull), winner of the last two editions, with a time of 1’20″022.

Norris was awarded the Queen’s Ring by the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Lombardy Region, Mauro Piazza, and the Mayor of Monza, Paolo Pilotto. The ring replicates the appearance of the Iron Crown (crafted during the Lombard reign, used to crown several Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, Napoleon Bonaparte, and finally, since 1890, incorporated into the coat of arms of the Kingdom of Italy). Some racing-related features, such as the checkered flag, have been added to this ring. After the presentation, the author Guido Guzzi, a goldsmith artist, returned to the workshop to fit the ring to Lando’s finger and engrave his name.

Formula 2 and Formula 3: Antonelli 18th, F.3: tomorrow Fornaroli (9th) and Minì (10th) will compete for the title

In F2, the Englishman Oliver Bearman (Prema) took the victory. The ACI Team Italia driver Kimi Antonelli finished 18th on the day Mercedes announced his signing for the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship season. “It’s not the race I expected, but starting from the back, it was to be expected,” commented the driver from Bologna. “Unfortunately, there was an accident on the straight, and my wing broke, so I had to complete the race on supersoft tires. I knew it would be very difficult because those tires have a short life. But in any case, I collected useful data for tomorrow. Now I’ll reset and focus on doing well tomorrow.” The Sunday race will start at 10:05 AM (30 laps).

In F3, German Tim Tramnitz (MP Motorsport) won. Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident) finished ninth ahead of Gabriele Minì (Prema), his title rival. “It was a great race; I started 16th. In the first half of the race, the car was really fast,” explained Fornaroli. “In the final part, however, I suffered a bit of rear degradation, so unfortunately, I lost two positions. I still collected important points, and now I will work on setting up the car as best as possible for tomorrow’s race.”

Here are the words of Minì, ACI Team Italia driver: “It was a very hard-fought race. I lost a few positions during the first lap, which certainly didn’t help me, but at the end of the race, I managed to recover some. We weren’t the fastest on the track, but we can work well for tomorrow. We’ll play it all out there.” The Sunday race will start at 8:35 AM (22 laps).

Also today in the paddock, the 2025 Formula 3 was presented.

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FORMULA 1 PIRELLI ITALIAN GRAND PRIX 2024: FRIDAY 30 AUGUST 2024

Lewis Hamilton , who will be at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza next year in a Ferrari suit, achieved the best overall time on the day dedicated to free practice for the 2024 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix , the sixteenth round of the World Championship (out of 24) to be held on Sunday.

The Englishman from Mercedes, 7 times world champion, stopped the clock in the second session at 1'20”738, an average of 258.302 km/h, just 3 thousandths ahead of Lando Norris (McLaren), fresh from his success in Holland and who was among the most acclaimed in Fanzone. Third fastest time for Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz : the Spaniard is 103 thousandths behind. Fifth fastest time for Charles Leclerc who is 0”154 behind the other McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli had an unlucky debut with Mercedes in the first session, which lasted only five laps before crashing at the Parabolica. “It was quite an intense day,” Kimi explained. “Unfortunately, my first FP1 ended quickly. I pushed too early, I should have done it progressively, but instead I immediately looked for the limit. The impact was significant, 52 lateral Gs, and I don’t feel great. I thank Mercedes for the opportunity they gave me, I apologize to the team and George Russell. Now I’m focusing on F2 to try to have a good weekend anyway.” The Prema and ACI Team Italia driver closed the Formula 2 qualifying session with the sixth fastest time (pole position for Englishman Zane Maloney). Today in the Sprint Race, the top ten will start in reverse order. Good news from Formula 3, where championship leader Leonardo Fornaroli (Trident) took pole position – a result that allowed him to extend his lead in the standings to 3 points – with Gabriele Minì (Prema, ACI Team Italia driver) and who will start third in the Sunday race (reversed grid for the top twelve).

“Every driver, a tree”: 20 trees planted with Sticchi, Domenicali and General Rispoli

Twenty trees, as many as the drivers participating in the Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix 2024: this morning in the Variante Ascari area, the President of the ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani , the President of Formula 1, Stefano Domenicali , the General of the Army Corps, Andrea Rispoli , Commander of the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units Command, the Brigadier General, Raffaele Pio Manicone , Commander of the Carabinieri Biodiversity Group, the President of AC Milan, Geronimo La Russa , the President of Sias- Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Giuseppe Redaelli , the President of Formula Imola, Giancarlo Minardi attended the initiative “Every driver, a tree”, promoted by Automobile Club d'Italia in agreement with the General Command of the Forestry, Environmental and Agri-food Units of the Arma dei Carabinieri. On this occasion, wild apple trees, wild pear trees, pado trees, wild cherry trees, Turkey oaks, oxyphilous ash trees and field maples were planted. “We renewed an initiative taken last year with the Arma dei Carabinieri which is to contribute, both in Monza and Imola, to planting a tree for each pilot. Last year I was unable to attend and so I was very pleased to be there now – commented the president of ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani -. I thank General Andrea Rispoli and the entire Arma dei Carabinieri, who inspired this initiative. We are always attentive to the environment, everything we can do to improve this wonderful park, which deserves respect but needs help due to its age and its problems like all parks, we do it. I think this is the right way to live inside the Park”. “I thank the president of ACI, Angelo Sticchi Damiani, and all those who worked on this initiative - these are the words of General Andrea Rispoli -: we have planted plants that are a symbol of closeness between the Carabinieri and the citizen. There is the sporting moment, but also respect for biodiversity. This is also a moment of education for all generations”.

The DG of Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Alfredo Scala, awarded by the Valle Lambro Regional Park On the occasion of the 42nd edition of the Confartigianato Motori Award, the Valle del Lambro Regional Park awarded the “Technology and Environment Award” to the General Director, Alfredo Scala “for his contribution to the innovative vision that has characterized the significant modernization interventions of the circuit – we read in the motivation -. A commitment to the development and management of the Autodromo that has also been able to look with great attention and concreteness at the issues of sustainability”. During the ceremony, Scala underlined how “being inside the Lambro Valley Regional Park is a source of pride and uniqueness for us and always pushes us to take care of our park. After the storm of July 2024, thanks to the collaboration with the authorities, the Lombardy Region and the Carabinieri Forestry and Parks Protection Command, more than 8,000 plants were planted. For us, it is also important to recover, transforming, as recently done with the trunks felled by the storm that became furniture for the wooded area and fountains for our spectators. Environment also means transition to an energy tariff from renewable sources and use of biofuel generators. We have obtained the FIA three stars recognition and we want to keep it for a long time. “For us – continued Scala – sustainability is also social and in recent years we have implemented activities together with the associations both during the Grand Prix and throughout the entire year. The local community for us remains the starting point for involvement, starting with schools and associations to increasingly be a facility serving the area around us. In this Grand Prix, thanks to the modernization work we can say that we have further reduced the architectural barriers and this has allowed us to create a new area dedicated to disabled enthusiasts who have access to all the services and can move around the circuit also thanks to the indications of WeGlad, which is an online community developed by young people with disabilities, who map the routes indicating possible obstacles. Also during this GP we have renewed the collaborations with ATS and CSV for food donation and our friends from PizzAut will still be at our side. In addition, this year, LILT, which provides sunscreen for spectators and Rise Against Hunger, an association particularly active in the fight against food waste and in supporting communities in Zimbabwe”.

AND TOMORROW….

Verstappen, Hamilton and the Ferrari fans in the Fanzone Tomorrow, the world champion Max Verstappen will take to the stage of the Fanzone of the Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix 2024, among others, and is expected around 10.20 am. Shortly after, it will be the turn of Lewis Hamilton, who will wear red next year. The grand finale will be with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz , who are expected to answer questions and sign autographs around 10.40 am . It should be emphasized that the Fanzone is an integral part of the event and, therefore, to access it (opening hours 9 am - 7 pm ) you must have a valid ticket for the day. Tickets can be purchased on the websites monzanet.it and ticketone.it .

TALK ITALIAN TALENT WITH ANTONELLI, FORNAROLI AND MINÌ

After making his Formula 1 debut yesterday with Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli will take to the Fanzone stage tomorrow, Saturday 31 August, for the Talk Italian Talent which will see the Formula 2 driver from Bologna alongside the protagonists of the fight for the Formula 3 title Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriele Minì. The appointment is at 5 pm. The Queen's Ring to the poleman with Mayor Pilotto and the regional undersecretary Piazza. The author of the pole position in the Temple of Speed will be awarded the Queen's Ring at the end of qualifying, which reproduces the Iron Crown to which the author (Guido Guzzi) has inserted some elements that recall the checkered flag: it will be delivered by the Mayor of Monza Paolo Pilotto and the Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Lombardy Region, Mauro Piazza , on behalf of President Attilio Fontana.

11 AM, FANZONE: MONZA REMEMBERS VITTORIO BRAMBILLA

Finally, tomorrow, in Fanzone, 50 years after the debut in F1 of the unforgettable Monza driver Vittorio Brambilla (1937-2001), the mayor Paolo Pilotto , together with the president of Sias Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Giuseppe Redaelli , will present an award to Vittorio's son, Roberto. It is a silver-plated brass plate 30 cm in diameter with a special dedication and the symbols of the Municipality of Monza and the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The appointment is set for 11 am , at the tent hosting the photographic exhibition dedicated to Brambilla.

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