My Imola 2023 Experience… Or Lack Thereof
So, I was all geared up for the Imola Grand Prix back in 2023. You know how it is, marked the calendar, maybe thought about what snacks to get. Ready to watch the cars go round that classic track.
I remember starting to see some news early in the week. Just bits and pieces at first. Something about heavy rain in that part of Italy, the Emilia-Romagna region. Didn’t think too much of it initially, maybe just a wet race coming up.
But then, things got way more serious. The pictures and videos started showing up everywhere online. It wasn’t just rain, it was proper flooding. Rivers overflowing, towns getting swamped. Looked really bad, honestly. Scary stuff for the people living there.
Started seeing chatter then, people asking if the race could even happen. The paddock area itself, parts of it were apparently flooded or at least very waterlogged. Access roads were a mess. Teams were told not to travel to the circuit for a bit.
It became pretty clear what was going to happen. You can’t really run a massive event like an F1 race when there’s a local emergency unfolding. Think about the emergency services needed, the safety for everyone, fans, staff, drivers. Plus, just feels wrong, you know?
Then the official announcement came through. The 2023 Imola Grand Prix was cancelled. Not postponed, just straight up cancelled for the year.
Was I disappointed about missing the race? Yeah, a bit. I always enjoy Imola. But honestly, seeing the situation over there, it was absolutely the right decision. No doubt about it. Racing is just sport, but people losing homes and needing help, that’s real life.
So yeah, my “practice and record” for the 2023 Imola Grand Prix turned out to be just watching the news unfold and hoping things got better for the folks in Italy. A weird sort of race weekend, that one. Just glad they prioritized safety and didn’t try to force it.
