Historic Minardi Day: Engineer Gian Carlo Outdid Himself for the Tenth Edition

More than 600 cars are expected on Saturday, September 19, and Sunday, September 20, at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Racetrack in Imola for the 10th edition of Historic Minardi Day, the major event dedicated to the history and passion for motorsports, created by the Minardi family in collaboration with Formula Imola.
The event is set to offer thousands of enthusiasts a unique weekend, with a program that will combine track activities, legendary cars, meet-and-greets with key figures, culture, history, and entertainment.

Once again, the heart of the event will be the exhibitions of extraordinary historic Formula 1 cars, featuring single-seaters from vastly different eras: from the 1971 Ferrari 312 B2 to the 2011 Williams FW33 formerly driven by Rubens Barrichello. Among the cars expected on the track are the former Graham Hill Shadow DN1 (1973), the Lotus 72 E5 (1974), the Tyrrell P34/1 (1976) and P34/2 (1977), the March Beta F1 761 (1976), the Arrows A1B formerly driven by Riccardo Patrese (1978), the Merzario F1A3 (1979), the Wolf Ford WR7 (1979), Ferrari 312 T5 (1980), Shadow DN12 (1980), Osella FA1 E Alfa Romeo (1983), Ferrari 126 C4 (1984), Osella-Alfa Romeo FA1G (1986), Arrows A10 (1987), Minardi M189 (1989), Monteverdi F1 (1990), Arrows A11B (1990), Ferrari 642 (1991), Ferrari 643 (1991), Andrea Moda Formula S921 (1992), Ferrari F92A (1992), Fondmetal GR01 (1992), Ferrari 412 T1 – chassis 154 (1994), and Minardi PS04B (2005). Added to these are the 1970 Lotus 70 F5000 and the 1:1 scale replica of the McLaren MP4/15, built by its owner with extraordinary attention to detail and with official authorization directly from McLaren, and embellished with Mika Häkkinen’s original autograph.

The Formula 2 cars will be no less impressive, represented by models such as the Brabham BT16 (1965), Pygmée MDB17 (1972), Brabham BT40 (1973), March BMW 772 (1977), the Chevron B48 formerly driven by Siegfried Stohr (1979), and the Minardi M283B (1983), which competed in the 1983 European Formula 2 Championship with Pierluigi Martini and Alessandro Nannini.
There is also a wide selection of Formula 3 cars, including models by Dallara, Martini, Bellasi, Tatuus, Reynard, Chevron, Mygale, and Ralt, as well as Formula 3000 cars, such as the Reynard-Judd 91D, Ralt RT20B, Reynard 89D, the Lola F3000 formerly driven by Helmut Marko, the Lola B52, the Formula Dallara Nissan 3000c World Series, along with A1GP and GP2 single-seaters.

Of course, there’s also plenty of room for Prototypes, including the Alpine A450B, Ligier LMP3 JSP320, Lola T70 MK3B, Ginetta LMP2, Lucchini, Radical, Chevron, ATS, and ARL Spire GTR, Lavaggi LS1, as well as GT, GTS, and historic GT cars, thanks in large part to the significant and decisive contribution of Scuderia Nuvolari Italia. Among the cars on display are the 1958 Jaguar Knobbly, the Jaguar E-Type Lightweight and “Imola 91,” as well as numerous Lancia Deltas, including a special tribute to Riccardo Errani.

The Alfa Romeo brand will be represented in particular by Scuderia del Portello Alfa Romeo, which will be present with nine gems from its “Museum of Dynamic History” of historic Alfa Romeo race cars: the Alfa Romeo TZ Le Mans Classic (1964), the Alfa Romeo GTAM (1970), Alfa Romeo 2000 GT Veloce (1972), Raffo Tipo 12 Alfa Romeo (1985), Alfa Romeo 33 1700 Quadrifoglio Verde (1986), Alfa Romeo Formula Boxer (1987), Alfa Romeo Formula Boxer (1988), Reynard 893 Formula 3 (1989), and EFFEFFE-Alfa Romeo Berlinetta (2018).
The track will also feature the extraordinary supercars and hypercars born from the creativity of Horacio Pagani, alongside cars from Lamborghini, Dallara, Pambuffetti, and Praga, as well as the Mazda MX-5 and cars from the Lotus Italia and Abarth clubs.
And these are just a few of the cars that will bring the Historic Minardi Day 2026 to life.

ACI STORICO FESTIVAL AND TERRE DI ROMAGNA RALLY
The event’s packed program will be further enriched by the ACI Storico Festival.
The highlight of the event will take place on Sunday, September 20, with the Terre di Romagna Rally, organized by the Automobile Club Ravenna. One hundred ACI Storico members will take part in the rally and, in the afternoon, will have the opportunity to experience the Historic Minardi Day program up close.
As is tradition, the itinerary is packed with highlights, starting from the Imola Circuit, passing through Faenza, and including a visit to the Municipal Art Gallery, before returning to the circuit for the track parade and the event’s conclusion.
Within the ACI Storico area, in Paddock 1, there will also be a mobile clinic where all visitors can have a free electrocardiogram as part of the “The First Checkup for Your Heart” campaign: an important opportunity to take care of your health, both now and in the future.

THE CHECCO COSTA MUSEUM: FORMULA 1, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND MOTORSPORT CULTURE
Among the main new features of the 2026 edition, the Checco Costa Museum will be transformed into a space entirely dedicated to the history and culture of motorsport.
Inside the museum, among five extraordinary Formula 1 single-seaters, the public will be able to admire an exclusive photographic exhibition dedicated to the ten-year anniversary of Historic Minardi Day and, at the same time, attend meetings with authors and key figures in motorsport, book presentations, and award ceremonies that will take place throughout the entire weekend.
Numerous prestigious names have already been confirmed.
Among the events, in order of the program, are Diego Alverà, author of “Giro di pista: Circuits and Drivers Who Made the History of Speed,” and Umberto Zapelloni with “Formula Italia: The Cars and Drivers Who Made F1 History.”
Mario Donnini, along with Bruno Giacomelli and Andrea Cordovani, will headline a double presentation dedicated to “Bruno Giacomelli – They Kept Calling Me Jack O’Malley” and “Crime & Motorsport.”
Next up is Veronica Vesco with “Michael Schumacher: An Unforgettable Story” and Sergio Remondino, together with Stefano Casadio, for the presentation of “A Lancia in the Heart: Riccardo Errani, the Delta, and the Rallies.”
The program will also include the screening of the documentary “Our Friend Ayrton” and a discussion with Riccardo Patrese, author of “From Niki to Kimi: Courage, Skill, and Passion in F1 Past and Present.”
A particularly anticipated moment will take place on Sunday, September 20, from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM, when Gian Carlo Minardi will meet with the press and fans for an open discussion.
It will be an opportunity to take stock of the tenth edition of Historic Minardi Day, share reflections on the current state of motorsports, and discuss future prospects and projects.

TWO DAYS DEDICATED TO AYRTON SENNA
Friends from the Ayrton Senna Italia Fan Club will be present with two days entirely dedicated to the great Brazilian champion in the Ayrton Senna da Silva Hall, inside the Imola Circuit, with free admission while seats last.
A rich program of talks, testimonials, books, and stories will allow fans to retrace the history of Ayrton Senna and his extraordinary connection to Imola.
Highlights include talks with Ruggero Melgrati, Umberto Zapelloni, Mario Donnini, and Franco Nugnes, as well as a tribute to Gian Carlo Minardi and a special exhibition dedicated to the history of the Minardi Team, told through its shirts.

TICKETS, EXPERIENCES, AND TRACK PARADE
Tickets to attend the tenth edition of Historic Minardi Day are already available on TicketOne, with the option to choose between single-day tickets and weekend passes valid for the entire event.
Two major new features have been introduced to celebrate the 10th-anniversary edition.
The Experience package is designed for fans who want to play an even more active role in Historic Minardi Day, with privileged access to the 4th floor of the Terrazza Lounge (Tower), access to the Podium for a group photo, premium content, and dedicated services. The package, which includes access to the Pit Lane, is reserved for those 16 years of age and older.
Also making its debut is the Parade Ticket, designed for those who dream of taking to the track in their own car. The event is scheduled for Sunday, September 20, around 6:00 p.m., for the final celebratory lap behind the Safety Car. Participants can enjoy the experience with friends and family, including children under 16, provided that each occupant has a valid admission ticket and the number of passengers does not exceed the vehicle’s approved capacity.

A WEEKEND FOR FANS AND FAMILIES
Rounding out the weekend will be a packed entertainment program in the Paddock area, featuring professional simulators, model cars, the Automobilia Village, bookstores, a LEGO® exhibit, sports apparel, radio-controlled models, and numerous other activities for enthusiasts and families—including the children’s area (Paddock 2), where little ones can have fun, play, and enjoy incredible inflatable attractions.

On September 19 and 20, the Enzo and Dino Ferrari International Racetrack in Imola will once again transform into a vast, dynamic motorsports museum, where cars, drivers, and key figures from different eras will come together to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Historic Minardi Day.