Oh boy, we’re back in Europe! That means one thing: the FIA World Endurance Championship is rolling into Imola for Round Two of 2025’s dizzying spins and screeches. Imola—a track as old-school as vinyl records, or, you know, your grandpa’s stories about walking uphill both ways to school. Honestly, it’s got that vintage vibe that car fans can’t get enough of, winding through Italy’s Emilia-Romagna like a snake made of 21 turns. I distinctly remember the buzz of last year’s crowd, almost 75,000 folks living and dying with every twist and turn. Makes you wonder if there’s something in the Italian air—or maybe just the wine?
Ferrari, of course, is the hometown darling. Not exactly the underdog, right? Fresh off absolutely owning the Qatar curtain-raiser, they’re itching for a remix of that victory track at Imola. Imagine the roar when those three 499P Hypercars locked in the first and third spots on the proverbial podium in Qatar. But hey, let’s not get cocky—motorsport’s nothing if not a soap opera. Just recall last year’s Imola drama; they were storming through the race only to be thrown off balance by finicky weather. Talk about having the rug yanked from under you.
Nicklas Nielsen—a dude who seems to have a one-way ticket to the winner’s circle—gave a shout-out to the almost cult-like tifosi. Personally? I find it kind of heartwarming how these fans are dedicated enough to make a grown man verge on tears. Not that Nielsen would cry or anything, but you catch my drift. The Imola air is packed, not just with the aroma of rich pasta, but also with expectations—what a potent combo, honestly.
Anyway, back to the plot, Ferrari’s rivals aren’t exactly lounging on their couches with hot cocoa. The teams behind those other 17 growling beauties on the grid are feeling the heat. No, really. Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, who seemed primed for a blingy ending in Qatar, pulled a classic facepalm moment with that unlucky car collision right when the safety car decided to get involved. Whoops. But they’ll be wanting redemption—or maybe just a glitch-free day. Same goes for Toyota and Porsche—they had all the flair of flat soda at the start of the season.
Can’t forget Aston Martin either, wielding its new Valkyrie with sass and keeping folks on their toes. And amidst all this testosterone, there’s Team WRT with Valentino Rossi breathing life into the race like some kind of petrolhead Harry Potter. Who wouldn’t want to watch a nine-time motorcycling world champion tackle his old stomping ground? I swear, this is what high-stakes drama looks like when it trades its scripts for steering wheels.
Oh, and there’s this flashy thing about medals—the FIA President’s Medal, to be precise. If environmental responsibility comes wrapped in silver and glory, count me in. It’s going to be doled out for the first time in endurance racing at Imola. Like, who knew saving the planet could look so shiny? We’ve got ceremonial pizzazz and everything.
So, if you’re anywhere near Imola on April 17, maybe swing by the city center for some driver autograph hunting—not exactly Pokémon but close enough for car geeks. And of course, roll on to the track action over the weekend. Trust me, as the engines roar at 13:00 CET on Sunday, 20 April, you’ll want to be there, feeling the adrenaline in the air. After all, isn’t that—along with some greasy Piadina—the real Italian experience?
