Do you know when the first race was held at Mugello? Or when Enzo Ferrari raced there? These are just some of the many stories that revolve around this so special circuit that has literally crossed a century of adventures and races. You can find them told by the journalist Paolo Beltramo for the SkySport portal and which we propose again to you below:

THE EVOLUTION

Mugello is a world reference point for motorcycle races and for some car races. Formula One tried for years and in 2021 it even raced there. Having become property of Ferrari in 1988, it lost quite quickly that ancient and romantic patina of its, to become more and more modern in services and equipment (large and functional boxes, restaurant, grandstands, services) and also safer while maintaining the same layout of the beginnings.

THE FASCINATING ATMOSPHERE

The run-off areas have changed a lot, the protections have become more effective with the use of Air Fences and the medical assistance is more complete and equipped. However, there remains that unique charm linked to its use above all for motorcycles and to the type of atmosphere that one experiences at night, but also during the day in the race weekend. Only the tracks with the public sleeping inside them have this type of charm and problems.

THE HISTORICAL PILOTS

To arrive at being that of today, the Mugello Circuit started over 100 years ago, in 1914 with a regularity race immediately interrupted by the war. It resumes in the Twenties with a road race that from Scarperia goes up until Fiorenzuola to return through the Futa pass to the base. The best of the era race there: Campari, Brilli Peri, Enzo Ferrari (winner in 1921), Antonio Ascari. A momentary veil covered the circuit, overshadowed by the Mille Miglia.

THE DRIFTING LESIONS

With the disappearance of this race there is an attempt at relaunching in 1955, but one must wait for the 60s and the definitive end of the Mille Miglia to have, in '64, proposed again the old track of 66 km. It is an enormous success of public thanks to the prepared cars, and to pilots like Pinto, Nanni Galli Giuti, Nestri, Merzario. Even Fiorio and Maglioli with a "barchetta" of theirs made to allow Sandro Munari to give drifting lessons on the Apennines.

THE ROAD TRACK

In those final years of the road track of Mugello race pilots of the class of Stommelen, Toivonen, Galli, Vaccarella, Jo Siffert... In the end one arrives at the conclusion that that small Tuscan village famous for the production of knives, must become the seat of a new track, modern and technical. It is built in 1972 and on June 23, 1974 Formula 5000 baptizes one of the best-born tracks in the history of the world: since then the layout of the Tuscan track has no longer been changed. Everything else, yes.

BUSCHERINI AND TORDI

I have the fortune/misfortune of meeting it for the first time as a spectator in 1976 invited by Nico Cereghini, whom I knew since the times of the Lupetti (me) and the Scouts (him). I am in a lawn after the Arrabbiate, but one can see also the Bucine, the last big curve. But that is also the day of the death of Otello Buscherini and Paolo Tordi, two excellent Italian pilots. Back then, on the outside of the curves the run-off spaces were rather scarce and to slow down whoever went off road, bike and pilot, there were stakes driven into the ground connected by iron nets.

THE MAGIC

It was obvious that one could get very hurt there and even die, but the "air fences" and even the air bags were still beyond coming... To know it better I must wait for the end of the 70s. It is a matter of an Italian championship race. The world one of 1978 with the spectacular fight Read, Sheene and Agostini I miss it, unfortunately. But the magic already hovers, also thanks to this epic race, on the hills of Mugello. Mountain small roads, small villages, then finally Scarperia with its Tuscan beauty and the descent towards the entrance.

A SPARTAN PLACE

There is not the helmet of today, a double big gate and a small booth in the middle. Inside everything is still spartan: practically there is nothing or almost. The paddock that starts from the underpass and goes until where now park the Motor-homes of the pilots and the TV Compound. The clinic of the circuit, today so beautiful and equipped, absent. The boxes short, rather ugly, low.

AN ATTRACTIVE LAYOUT

And that underpass that brings you to a big house enclosed inside the track where everyone goes to eat in the interval or when they can. Very few the grandstands, but beautiful, unique the track with its curves in uphill and downhill, its "S" so different, the two splendid Arrabbiate uphill, the second blind, "by hair" [requiring guts] and then that big return curve that tempts you to close immediately the trajectory and instead you must resist it, wait to be able to exit stronger on the long straightaway.

THE ENTRANCE OF FERRARI

For the fortunate curious like me there is also a service road that follows the track like a shadow and allows you to go to see them where you want. A jewel still raw, which will be set as it should be in 1988 when Ferrari becomes its owner. Since then everything improved: boxes, paddock, services, there is a restaurant, many small rooms, a terrace for the sponsors, grandstands. There is no longer the restaurant inside the Bucine, the house is there, dilapidated and no one goes there.

AT THE "MUGIALLO" ONE DOES NOT SLEEP

The circulation outside the circuit also improved very much (within the limits of the possible). Mugello became "Mugiallo", it is where one does not sleep, but it remains the place in the world where one experiences an atmosphere that from no other part can be found again.

A MIX OF SENSATIONS

This mix between beauty of the places and of the track, this mix between who remains inside the fence and who instead goes even as far as Florence to find where to sleep, that unique confusion of one-way streets, detours, places, restaurants, motorbikes that whiz past.

WHERE EVERYTHING WAS BORN

In short, Mugello is like everything that was born in those years in the Italy of motors, of the passion for races and speed, almost unique. It deviates from Emilia and from Romagna, but from its passes you can throw yourself right down there, where everything was born and grew and with that name that is part of the life of Modena, Imola, Misano and Mugello: Ferrari.