Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi
Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi at a glance
- Location
- Campagnano di Roma, Lazio
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 4.085 km (2.538 mi)
- Turns
- 15
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1951
- Owner
- Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), since 1967
- Capacity
- 32,000
- Address
- Via Ternana, Vallelunga
- Phone
- +39 06 901 5501
- Website
- motorsport.vallelunga.it
Track map and layout
Vallelunga is a compact, technical circuit set in rolling countryside about half an hour north of Rome, and its International Circuit configuration, extended and rebuilt in 2005, runs a tight 4.085 km lap with 15 turns. The layout mixes a long back straight with a twisting, medium-speed infield, making it a demanding but accessible test for single-seaters, GT cars and motorcycles alike, and a popular venue for testing thanks to its position close to the capital. A shorter Club Circuit layout is also used for entry-level racing, karting and driving instruction.
Named corners and sections
- Cimini. A fast right-hand kink taken early in the lap, named after the nearby Cimini hills.
- Ospedaletti. A tightening infield corner in the technical middle sector of the lap.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| International Circuit | 4.08 km | current layout since 2005, 15 turns, FIA-homologated test track |
| Club Circuit | 1.75 km | 6 turns; used for entry-level racing, karting and ACI driving instruction |
Events and race weekends
Vallelunga's calendar is built around domestic Italian championships rather than international headline races: the Italian GT Championship, Italian F4, TCR Italy, Porsche Carrera Cup Italy and CIV Superbike all hold rounds there, alongside historic racing meetings. The circuit hosted the non-championship Rome Grand Prix for single-seaters through the 1960s-80s and a round of World Superbike in 2007-08, but today it functions primarily as a national racing, testing and driver-training venue.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italian GT Championship | GT racing | varies | |
| TCR Italy / Italian F4 | Touring car & junior single-seater | varies | often run together across a season |
| Porsche Carrera Cup Italy | One-make GT | varies | |
| CIV Superbike Championship | Italian motorcycle championship | varies |
Getting there and parking
Vallelunga sits about 32 km (20 miles) north of Rome near Campagnano di Roma, making Rome's two main airports the obvious gateways: Fiumicino for international flights and Ciampino for low-cost carriers. There is no railway station at the circuit; visitors without a car typically hire one in Rome or take a taxi from the nearest regional station, as public transport links to the track itself are limited.
- Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) · about 50 min drive
- Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA) · about 45 min drive
Parking
Free general parking is available around the circuit for most race meetings; larger events add overflow parking with marshals directing traffic on the approach roads.
Hire a car in Rome if planning to visit — there is no rail station near the circuit and public transport options to Campagnano di Roma are limited, especially on race days.
Hotels and camping near Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi
Most visitors base themselves in Rome, roughly 45 minutes to an hour away by car, given its vastly larger hotel supply and the fact that most Vallelunga events do not otherwise justify staying closer to the circuit. Campagnano di Roma itself has a small number of local options for those who prefer to stay nearer the track.
Where to look
Rome offers by far the largest hotel choice, with a 45-60 minute drive to the circuit; Campagnano di Roma has limited local accommodation for those wanting to stay closer.
Camping
No permanent or notable trackside camping culture; Vallelunga's meetings are generally day-trip events for visitors based in Rome.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Vallelunga is one of the busiest track-day venues in central Italy, hosting frequent open-pitlane days, driving school sessions and ACI-run driver safety courses on both the International and Club circuits. Its proximity to Rome makes it the default choice for drivers and riders in the capital looking for regular seat time without travelling to Tuscany or further north.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Circuit outright lap record | 1:23.475 | Andy Soucek | Panoz DP09 (Superleague Formula) | 2008 |
| CIV Superbike lap record | 1:36.084 | Lorenzo Savadori | Aprilia RSV4 | 2020 |
Spectator guide
Vallelunga's grandstands and general admission banking give clear views of the main straight and several infield corners, and the circuit's compact size makes it easy for spectators to move between vantage points during a race day. Crowds are generally modest outside of the biggest domestic GT and touring car weekends.
Seating
A grandstand covers part of the start/finish straight; general admission areas around the infield give views of the technical middle sector.
Best places to watch
The main straight grandstand is best for starts, finishes and pit-lane action; infield banking gives a good view of overtaking in the tighter corners.
Weather
- spring/autumn (main race season): mild, highs typically 18-24°C
- summer: hot, highs often 30°C or higher
History of Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi
Rome's motor racing home since 1951
Vallelunga opened in November 1951 as a dirt oval north of Rome before being surfaced with asphalt in 1957, giving the Italian capital its own dedicated motorsport venue for the first time. The Automobile Club d'Italia took ownership of the circuit in 1967 and rebuilt it in 1971, establishing the layout that, with later modifications, underpins the track still used today.
Grand prix racing and endurance history
Through the 1960s to 1980s Vallelunga hosted the non-championship Rome Grand Prix for Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars, and staged endurance races including editions of the 6 Hours of Vallelunga, drawing international sports car teams to compete alongside Italy's domestic championships. The circuit was expanded and modernised in 2005, adding a new section and extending the lap to its current 4.085 km configuration, which earned FIA homologation as a test circuit.
A national training and testing hub
Renamed in 2006 in honour of Piero Taruffi, the Italian racing driver and engineer nicknamed 'The Silver Fox', Vallelunga today functions primarily as ACI's national motorsport and driver-training centre, hosting Italian GT, F4, TCR and Carrera Cup rounds alongside public driving courses and safety instruction. Its position close to Rome, rather than any single headline event, is what keeps the circuit busy: it is the default test and track-day venue for teams and drivers based in central Italy.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Vallelunga circuit?+
The International Circuit is 4.085 km (2.538 miles) with 15 turns; a shorter 1.747 km Club Circuit is also used for entry-level events.
Who owns Vallelunga?+
The Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), which took ownership in 1967 and operates it today as a national racing, testing and driver-training venue.
Why is it called Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi?+
The circuit was renamed in 2006 in honour of Piero Taruffi, the Italian racing driver and engineer known as 'The Silver Fox'.
Has Formula 1 raced at Vallelunga?+
No. Vallelunga hosted the non-championship Rome Grand Prix for Formula 2 and Formula 3 cars between the 1960s and 1980s, but has never held a Formula 1 world championship round.
What is the nearest airport to Vallelunga?+
Rome Ciampino is closest at around 45 minutes' drive; Rome Fiumicino, the larger international airport, is about 50 minutes away.
Can the public drive Vallelunga?+
Yes. ACI runs regular open-pitlane track days and driving school sessions on both the International and Club circuits, alongside third-party organised track days.
Other tracks nearby
- Circuito Cittadino dell'EUR · 37 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Autodromo dell'Umbria Mario Umberto Borzacchini · 108 km · road course
- Circuito di Pescara · 151 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli · 202 km · road course
- Mugello Circuit · 220 km · road course
- Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari · 248 km · road course
Facts checked against 2 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.