10th Edition of Minardi Days: Italian Motorsports Celebrates Its History in Imola

Words and pictures: Roman Klemm

Former F1 team owner Giancarlo Minardi held his motorsport festival in Imola for the tenth time. Machines and people may age, but once again, an incredibly vast assortment of cars, personalities, books, models, and memorabilia recalling the great history of Italian motorsport - and not just Italian - was gathered in the spacious paddock.

The event was founded in 2016 from the idea of a meetup of old friends of Minardi and has grown into one of the most important historical events in Europe. Minardi and his organization team offer historic car owners a free two-day drive on the former San Marino Grand Prix track, which cleverly combines with 'cultural inserts' like discussions with motorsport-personalities and promotion of new books.

And so thousands of fans in the stands and in the open-access paddock/boxes were entertained not only by Ferrari, Minardi, Osella, Alfa Romeo, Dallara, Tecno, and other racing cars, but also by presentations of new books by former F1 drivers Riccardo Patrese and Bruno Giacomelli, as well as talks with Andrea Sassetti (founder of the Andrea Moda F1 team), legendary artist Giorgio Piola, racer Gabriele Tarquini, and designer Gabriel Tredozi.

Minardi Days simply offer enthusiasts of technology and autograph collectors huge opportunities to directly enjoy their passion. And it wasn't just fans who came to watch. September's Imola has traditionally become a meeting place for the Italian 'who's who' of motorsport.To have a chat with old friends and fans, in addition to the aforementioned, Arturo Merzario, Ermano Cuoghi, Daniele Audetto, Pierluigi Martini, Luis Perez-Sala, Beppe Gabbiani, Miguel Angel Guerra, Siegfried Stohr, Giovanna Amati, Christina Beckers and her former protégé Thierry Boutsen, Tamara Vidali, Giovanni Lavaggi, Fulvio-Maria Ballabio, and surely others whom I didn't get to notice during those two sunny days in Emilia Romagna… 

So, wish you all the best for the next successful 10 years, Signore Minardi!