Autodromo Antonio Passero
| Autodromo Antonio Passero | |
| |
| Location | Milan, Italy |
| Races | TM Master Cup Round of Italy Dash Cup Italian GP |
Autodromo Antonio Passero is a 0.538-mile (0.866-km) oval race track in Milan, Italy.
The oval is located on the grounds of an expansive karting complex. It is the newest of multiple courses that are located there, and the only one that was expressly designed to host full-sized car racing.
It hosted the Round of Italy for the TM Master Cup Series from 2008 through 2010, and to date it remains the only track to have hosted the race.
History[edit | edit source]
The Autodromo was constructed to host the TM Master Cup Series, providing Italy with a bullring-style short track for the American-based stock car tour to visit, reminiscent of the many short ovals found throughout the racing scene North America.
Construction was completed in 2008, months prior to its first race.
Events[edit | edit source]
The Master Cup cars arrived for the first time in the summer of 2008, during the series' European tour, when the track would host the first edition of the Round of Italy. The victory went to Palmer Stiles, an American racer renowned for his success on short tracks in the United States.
The race was considered a commercial success and drew a sizable crowd, partially due to the success of Milanese competitor Alessandro Rossini. The Master Cup returned to the track in 2009, where Rossini scored the pole position to the delight of the Italian spectators. This race was also noteworthy for being the final one to be won by three-time series champion Alan Foster, who was serving as a substitute driver for an injured James West and piloting West's McDermott Motorsports Gasnier.
The Round of Italy took place for a third time in 2010. Afterwards, however, its contract was not renewed and the series has not returned since.
Throughout the 2010s, the track hosted races on an irregular basis for the British-based Dash Cup championship, providing the facility with plenty of stock car action beyond the departure of the Master Cup.
Design[edit | edit source]
When designing the oval, the architects took inspiration from American short tracks. It was specifically modeled after Myrtle Beach Speedway in the U.S. state of South Carolina, making the two tracks very similar to one another. Both share a very similar shape and feature corners banked at 13 degrees. Among the minor differences between the two, Autodromo Antonio Passero has somewhat more abrupt banking transitions, as well as a more rounded frontstretch.
Many of the facilities at the oval are not permanent, with grandstands and other infrastructure being set up temporarily for racing events.
Non-Canon Notes[edit | edit source]
- The track being inspired by the Myrtle Beach Speedway is due to the fact the track used in NR2003 is Myrtle Beach, right down to the signage (albeit, one that isn't terribly accurate, making it easier to pass off as a different facility).