2020 EuroNASCAR debut: This is the Autodromo di Vallelunga in Italy
In 2020 EuroNASCAR will hold a race for the first time at the Autodromo di Vallelunga in Italy – The origin of the track is an oval that was used for racing
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) 2020 will kick off the new season on 12-13 September at the Autodromo di Vallelunga Piero Taruffi. The track, which is located about 30 kilometres northeast of Rome, is home to a EuroNASCAR race for the first time and promises exciting races due to its unique characteristics.
The track is 4.085 kilometers long and consists of 15 turns. After the start-finish straight, the first thing to do is to enter a top speed sector with a fast left-right-left combination. The carussell is formed by the Cimini-turn which is followed by another fast passage. Only from turn 11 on it gets really tight, because there is a very slow but technical section parallel to the start-finish straight.
The drivers must be prepared for a varied and challenging track, which has its origin in an oval. The former horse race track, which was the venue of the first automobile race in 1951, can even still be recognized. If a connecting piece between curves 11 and 14 would be built, the oval would even be drivable.
Formel 1 in Vallelunga
The asphalt circuit was built in 1957 and designed by Piero Taruffi, a Formula 1 driver at the time, who still gives the track its name. Taruffi has contested 18 Formula 1 races in his career and won in Switzerland in 1952. In this season he also secured his best career result in the overall standings with third place.
Back to the history of the track: In 1963 there were further changes to the layout for the Grand Prix of Rome in Vallelunga. However, the race was not part of the Formula 1 overall standings at that time, as the Italian Grand Prix was held in Monza. Bob Anderson from Great Britain won the non-championship race at the Autodromo di Vallelunga.
In 1967, a further section of the course was added to make the track even more attractive. The circuit was last expanded in 2004 for another time. A one-kilometre long section of the track, consisting of curves 6, 7 and 8, was built, and since then the track has been used as a test track by several Formula 1 teams.
Superbike World Championship was part of the programme
Today Vallelunga is home to various smaller GT, touring car and formula series. In 2007 and 2008, the Superbike World Championship visited the track near the Italian capital Rome. With the visit of the NWES and the corresponding American Fan Fest, the track will be given new life.
The NWES drivers, who already tested the track, like the flow and rhythm of the track and that’s why they are looking forward to racing at the track. The circuit seems to suit touring cars well in general: In 2019, the FIA Motorsport Games were held in Vallelunga with TCR cars. The event was won by Klim Gavrilov.
Interesting for all Sim racers: The company Kunos Simulazioni is located at the Autodromo di Vallelunga. The development studio is the creator of the motorsport simulations Assetto Corsa and Assetto Corsa Competizione, which focus on GT racing.
