WILLIAMS RACE DAY HOSPITALITY: Emilia Romagna F1 GP in Imola 2024
On 19th May 2024 we were back at the Williams Experience Centre for ‘Race Day Hospitality’. This week was for the Emilia Romagna F1 Grand Prix in Imola. This weekend also marked the 30th anniversary of three-time champion Senna’s death in a crash there during the 1994 race. Autodromo Imola holds a special place in Formula 1 folklore. The scene of fabled rivalries, Imola has played host to both triumph and tragedy since joining the calendar in 1980.
Since 2020, the Italian circuit has been the home of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Situated 40km east of Bologna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Imola first hosted a round of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1980. The circuit appeared as host ofstaged the Italian Grand Prix once before securing an annual spot on the calendar with as home of the San Marino Grand Prix between 1981 and 2006. After a fourteen year absence, Imola returned to host the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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The circuit was added to the calendar as a replacement for other cancelled events. The Imola race was given a new title for its return – the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Originally intended to be a one-off return, the event was held again in 2021 as a replacement for the Chinese Grand Prix. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was due to be the sixth round of the 2023 season until the Wednesday before the race weekend, when the event was cancelled due to heavy flooding in the area surrounding the Imola circuit.
Formula 1 endured one of its darkest weekends at Imola in 1994. Following a violent crash for Rubens Barrichello in Friday qualifying, in which the Brazilian was lucky to escape without serious injury, Roland Ratzenberger lost his life following a similarly severe accident during Saturday’s qualifying session. The 33 year old Austrian was only attempting to qualify for the third time in F1 with the Simtek team.
In the Grand Prix, three-time World Champion Ayrton Senna died as a result of a heavy crash at the Tamburello corner. There had been numerous crashes at this corner previously, notably for Nelson Piquet in 1987 and Gerhard Berger in 1989. Senna’s death brought the media spotlight onto the safety of Formula 1 and resulted in a number of immediate changes to the sport. Senna would be the last driver to die as a result of a crash in a Formula 1 race until Jules Bianchi over twenty years later.
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Williams Racing welcomes you to enjoy a Grand Prix Race Day at the Williams Experience Centre.
The day includes a review of qualifying with an exclusive live link up to one of the drivers, live control room link up, VIP guest appearance with interview, refreshments and lunch followed by the live race screening. There is also the opportunity to browse the Williams Grand Prix Collection with a tour guide, as well as testing your speed on our 20 x F1-style driving simulators, our Super-Size Scalextric Track and other activities on the day.
WHAT’S INCLUDED DURING ‘RACE DAY HOSPITALITY’:
ACTIVITIES
- Unlimited use of the Esports lounge, with 20 state of the art simulators
- Our Think Scalextric Bespoke Super-Size Scalextric Track (click the link for more info about our track)
- Batak
- Museum Tour
- In addition you will have the opportunity to browse our shop with exclusive merchandise and 20% off
FOOD
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Unlimited soft drinks
Why not book up on a ‘Race Day Hospitality Experience’ at the Williams Racing Experience Centre. For info visit: williamsf1.com/experience-centre.
LEARN MORE (click below to open pdf)
Below is a video of the Giant Williams Racing Bespoke Track from our YouTube channel.