Imola Classic 2026: experience historic racing and stay at Podere Zampiera Vecchia, minutes from the track
The world of historic motorsport is buzzing: the long-awaited return of Imola Classic is just around the corner. This prestigious meeting is a must for anyone who loves engines and motor-racing history, and it is entirely devoted to the cars that wrote unforgettable chapters of endurance racing.
Before the engines, a tip from people who live here: think about where to sleep straight away. On race weekends the hotels in Imola and the B&Bs around town fill up fast, and whoever leaves it to the last minute ends up far from the track. Podere Zampiera Vecchia is a farmhouse in the Imola countryside, a few minutes’ drive from the circuit, with just five rooms. Ask about availability now, with no obligation.
A track that runs the wrong way round
The circuit was born after the war from the dream of a group of Imola locals, with the town council behind it and the blessing of Enzo Ferrari. The track opened in 1953 and hosted its first car race the following year. Today it bears the names of Enzo and his son Dino. The ribbon of tarmac measures 4,909 metres with 19 corners and runs anticlockwise, a rarity in Europe. Drivers prepare differently here, because the body works on the opposite side and the braking zones at Tosa and Rivazza call for a different feel on the pedal.
The cars you will see on track
The event is run by Peter Auto, the same organisation behind Le Mans Classic, and in 2026 it reaches its sixth edition. The stars are the cars that made endurance history. In past editions the Sixties’ Endurance grid lined up the Jaguar E-Type and the Porsche 911 alongside the Shelby Cobra 289 and the Bizzarrini 5300 GT, while the Heritage Touring Cup let the saloons of the Seventies roar, BMW 3.0 CSL and Ford Capri above all. The Endurance Racing Legends added the Nineties and Noughties: McLaren F1 GTR, Ferrari F40 LM, Porsche 911 GT1 and prototypes such as the Audi R8. An F40 at full throttle down the straight stays in your ears for days.
Tickets, dates and paddock
Save the dates: from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October 2026. Tickets are available online from TicketOne or at the circuit box office, with day tickets or a pass for the whole weekend. The heart of the experience is still the paddock: you wander among the garages and find yourself a metre away from cars you normally only see in museums. At the 2025 edition, paddock access was free on the Friday. Check the updated ticket options on the circuit’s website before you set off.
Where to stay for Imola Classic: Podere Zampiera Vecchia
After a day at the races, your ears need a rest. Podere Zampiera Vecchia is Chiara’s farmhouse in the hamlet of Cantalupo, a stone’s throw from the motorway exit and a few minutes’ drive from the circuit. All five rooms have their own private entrance and are named after a plant in the farmyard: Salvia (sage), Timo (thyme), Rosmarino (rosemary), Lavanda (lavender) and Giuggiolo (jujube). In the morning you have breakfast with the organic produce of the farm, and if practice starts late, the outdoor Jacuzzi spa mini-pool is waiting for you at the podere.
The weekend beyond the track
Then come the evenings, which around here smell of piadina and wine. From the podere you reach the historic centre of Imola in a few minutes, while Bologna and Ravenna are about half an hour’s drive away for a dinner among osterie and mosaics. Time to spare on Monday? There are the painted walls of Dozza and a glass of Albana in the wine cellar inside the fortress.
Book your room now
Five rooms for a weekend that draws enthusiasts from half of Europe: the maths is easy. Write to us through the contact form or on WhatsApp and secure your room for Imola Classic 2026. Book now.
Read also: all the events in Imola in 2026, the FIA WEC at Imola, the 4 Hours of Imola, the Historic Minardi Day and the Imola Mostra Scambio at the circuit.
Photo credits: the historic racing images come from Wikimedia Commons: Endurance Racing Legends grid at Spa Classic 2019, photo by Yannick Leclercq (CC BY-SA 4.0); Nelson Piquet’s Brabham at Imola 1980, photo by Carlom1961 (CC BY 4.0); Ferrari F40 LM in the paddock at Goodwood 2024, photo by Francisco Antunes (CC BY 2.0). The photos have been resized.
