Mar13

Vallelunga gets longer at last!

Map of the revised Vallelunga

Italy's Vallelunga circuit is set to be lengthened - 19 years after such proposals were first mooted!

Work on a new loop off the back straight is set to begin in August, bringing the total lap length to just over 2.6 miles.

Similar improvements were first suggested in 1985, although nothing eventually came of them. Vallelunga does have a long history of modifications since it first opened as a dirt oval in 1958, however.

Paved in 1958, the first major extension was blasted through a hillside in 1967, a twisty infield section added, and the racing direction reversed to form the current circuit.

Further work was undertaken in 1971 with a general refurbishment, which saw new pit buildings and a giant grandstand added on the pit straight. The only other changes have been the additions of two chicanes for motorcycle racers.

Once a regular host of Formula 2 and Formula 3000, Vallelunga has fallen out of favour with the authorities in recent years, although it did host a poorly-attended round of the European Le Mans Series in 2001. It remains to be seen whether the new extension will help bring about an international racing revival.


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