Imola
Monza is iconic when it comes to Italian race tracks, but Imola is not far behind – if at all. For 2024, WEC made station at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari near Bologna for the first time, and it delivered an excellent showdown between Toyota and Porsche – so much so that the event is returning in 2025.
Imola was the first track to join Le Mans Ultimate via DLC, and while many racing fans will be familiar with the circuit from the F1 games, Assetto Corsa Competizione or its various iterations throughout the years in Automobilista 2, some might be new to the track.
We start our lap on a main straight that is actually not that straight, instead featuring three distinct full-throttle kinks, first to the right, then one to the left. As we approach the Tamburello chicane, you can spot another slight kink to the left – right before you get to it is when you want to hit the brakes. Try braking into the first part of the chicane a bit, as the cars tend to stick a bit better than you would expect. Tamburello is usually good to tackle in third gear.
Cut across the inside curb, then do the same on the second one to the right to floor the throttle for the exit. The final left is a matter of threading the needle over the inside curb and taking as much of the exit curb as possible to stay flat out.
Now, we approach Villeneuve, which is almost the opposite of Tamburello. A fast entry is followed by a slower second part of the chicane. Look for the 100-meter board on the catchfence to the right, brake slightly and shift down to fourth as you guide the car over the first inside curb to create as straight a braking zone as possible for the second part. Hit the brakes again, shift down to third, and take a good amount of curb once again, both on the inside and on the exit after that.
A short run uphill later, we arrive at Tosa, a tricky second-gear corner that continues to go uphill. You can brake late as a result, just before the 50-meter board to your right while already slowly turning into the corner. Keep your patience as you let the car coast through on the inside of the turn, then ease back onto the throttle once you can see the exit. Despite the car’s traction control, you might struggle for grip on the exit, so be careful!
We continue the full-throttle run up the hill, passing under an advertising bridge and closing in on the 50-meter board to the right. Just before that, brake into Piratella, roll through the corner in third gear and back onto the throttle while taking a bit of the inside kerb.
Immediately, we are shooting down the hill to probably the trickiest section of Imola, Acque Minerali. The first right-hander only requires light braking, a downshift and some inside curb – then you need to straighten the car out as much as possible as you will immediately jump on the brakes for the second, slower part of the complex. Again, the curb on the inside and outside is your best friend to straightline the corner as much as possible, and up the hill you go.
Imola’s famous Variante Alta chicane now lies ahead. Hammer the brakes shortly after the 100-meter board to your left and turn in in second gear. Depending on the car and setup, you can cut across both curbs of the chicane a fair bit, but watch out for the sausage curbs on both of them – they can spit you out right into the nearby wall.
A good exit is crucial as we begin the descent towards Rivazza 1. Another tricky braking zone, as it goes downhill and has a slight right turn at the start, hit the brakes at the final DHL polysterene board sat on the grass before the 100 mark, going all the way down to second gear again. Use the inside curb to your advantage, as well as the outside one.
Stay on this outside curb on the approach to Rivazza 2 as you shift up to third, the inside and outside curbs again to maximize the track – and then floor it to fly down the main “straight”. You can cut it close to the pit wall in both right kinks to shave off some more time as you run up to the start/finish line.
Imola was the first track to join Le Mans Ultimate via DLC, and while many racing fans will be familiar with the circuit from the F1 games, Assetto Corsa Competizione or its various iterations throughout the years in Automobilista 2, some might be new to the track.
Le Mans Ultimate Track Guide Imola: First Sector
Tamburello
We start our lap on a main straight that is actually not that straight, instead featuring three distinct full-throttle kinks, first to the right, then one to the left. As we approach the Tamburello chicane, you can spot another slight kink to the left – right before you get to it is when you want to hit the brakes. Try braking into the first part of the chicane a bit, as the cars tend to stick a bit better than you would expect. Tamburello is usually good to tackle in third gear.
Cut across the inside curb, then do the same on the second one to the right to floor the throttle for the exit. The final left is a matter of threading the needle over the inside curb and taking as much of the exit curb as possible to stay flat out.
Villeneuve
Now, we approach Villeneuve, which is almost the opposite of Tamburello. A fast entry is followed by a slower second part of the chicane. Look for the 100-meter board on the catchfence to the right, brake slightly and shift down to fourth as you guide the car over the first inside curb to create as straight a braking zone as possible for the second part. Hit the brakes again, shift down to third, and take a good amount of curb once again, both on the inside and on the exit after that.
A short run uphill later, we arrive at Tosa, a tricky second-gear corner that continues to go uphill. You can brake late as a result, just before the 50-meter board to your right while already slowly turning into the corner. Keep your patience as you let the car coast through on the inside of the turn, then ease back onto the throttle once you can see the exit. Despite the car’s traction control, you might struggle for grip on the exit, so be careful!
Le Mans Ultimate Track Guide Imola: Second Sector
Piratella & Acque Minerali
We continue the full-throttle run up the hill, passing under an advertising bridge and closing in on the 50-meter board to the right. Just before that, brake into Piratella, roll through the corner in third gear and back onto the throttle while taking a bit of the inside kerb.
Immediately, we are shooting down the hill to probably the trickiest section of Imola, Acque Minerali. The first right-hander only requires light braking, a downshift and some inside curb – then you need to straighten the car out as much as possible as you will immediately jump on the brakes for the second, slower part of the complex. Again, the curb on the inside and outside is your best friend to straightline the corner as much as possible, and up the hill you go.
Le Mans Ultimate Track Guide Imola: Third Sector
Variante Alta (Curva Fausto Gresini) & Rivazza
Imola’s famous Variante Alta chicane now lies ahead. Hammer the brakes shortly after the 100-meter board to your left and turn in in second gear. Depending on the car and setup, you can cut across both curbs of the chicane a fair bit, but watch out for the sausage curbs on both of them – they can spit you out right into the nearby wall.
A good exit is crucial as we begin the descent towards Rivazza 1. Another tricky braking zone, as it goes downhill and has a slight right turn at the start, hit the brakes at the final DHL polysterene board sat on the grass before the 100 mark, going all the way down to second gear again. Use the inside curb to your advantage, as well as the outside one.
Stay on this outside curb on the approach to Rivazza 2 as you shift up to third, the inside and outside curbs again to maximize the track – and then floor it to fly down the main “straight”. You can cut it close to the pit wall in both right kinks to shave off some more time as you run up to the start/finish line.
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