City ready for the WEC crowd. Shuttles between the racetrack and the centre. Lots of initiatives from bars and clubs

The historic center, fresh from a particularly difficult winter marked by many restaurant closures, is looking for a boost thanks to the WEC weekend at the Autodromo. After the successful event on Thursday evening in Piazza Matteotti, with a few hundred enthusiasts looking for autographs and selfies with the World Endurance drivers, last night tastings of local products were held in the former Bar Bacchilega (transformed for the occasion into the ticket office of the event) and in many other activities in the area under the Clock and beyond. Today we continue both in Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Gramsci, with economic operators who will guarantee the right entertainment.

The municipal administration has in fact shared a path with trade and craft trade associations, which has led to examining a series of initiatives to bring the circuit public closer to the city centre. And it is thanks to the contribution of Cna, Confartigianato, Confcommercio Ascom and Confesercenti that a free shuttle service will be made available (today from 1pm to 6pm and tomorrow from 11am to 5pm) between the Autodromo and the historic centre.

Since tomorrow’s race is based on a duration of six hours (green flag at 1pm), the leaders of the local trade associations let it be known that they considered it interesting “to provide free transport to the historic center for the spectators participating in the World endurance championship who will be able to have a moment of leisure by visiting our city and the opportunity to get to know and shop in our shops, have an aperitif or taste a local gastronomic specialty”.

Still in the historic centre, you can also visit the Magic exhibition, with the photos taken by Angelo Orsi and Mirco Lazzari of Ayrton Senna (San Domenico museum); the exhibition of Marco Isola’s shots ‘ImolAyrton’ (Palazzo Vacchi – via Appia, 37) again featuring the Brazilian champion; the exhibition on the history of the racetrack in the municipal library; the exhibition by the sculptor Stefano Pierotti, also dedicated to Senna, inaugurated yesterday afternoon in the Sala Annunziata. Furthermore, in Piazza Caduti per la Libertà a full-scale reproduction of a Ferrari 499P made with products recovered from flooded areas as part of Hera’s Scart project has been on display for a few days.

“The WEC is part of an already intense weekend program until the end of 2024 – comments the councilor for the Historic Centre, Pierangelo Raffini –. All the activities of the Historic Center have the possibility of being organised, also thanks to the employment opportunity free of charge on public land to make ourselves more attractive. We expect several tens of thousands of people over the three days even if we have already seen a greater number of visitors since the beginning of the week”.