Track Focus – Mini Racing Ayrton Senna (Melzo)

Track Name – Mini Racing Ayrton Senna (Melzo)
Owner – Boni family
Country – Italy
Location – Melzo (20km east of Milan)
Direction – Anti-Clockwise
Surface – Asphalt
Previous key events hosted – Italian Nationals and EFRA GPs

Internationally known as the Melzo track, the Italian onroad nitro track ‘Mini Track Ayrton Senna’ this year celebrates its 20th Anniversary.  In the middle of construction when Formula 1 legend Ayrton Senna was tragically killed on May 1st in Italy during the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola,  it was decided to name the track after the Brazilian racing icon.  Requiring permission to name the track after the 3-time Formula 1 World Champion,  Senna’s sister Viviane visited the track to present an official certificate making it a member of The Ayrton Senna Foundation.

Situated on a 6,000 square metre site the track is in its second incarnation, the latest layout being very popular with drivers.  With a lap covering a length of 340 metres, the track features banked corners both coming onto and coming off the main straight, the 1:8 cars sounding particularly impressive as they turn into the sweeper at the end of the straight on full throttle – one observer describing the high pitched sound as ‘how Formula 1 used to sound’.  Open to members seven days a week, one of the key figures in day to day operation of the track is Angelo Boni, the father of Matrix tyres boss Cristian.  A new development to the track for the 2014 season is the addition of a raised pitlane.

In size the club has a membership of between 120-140 drivers with it being the home track of some of nitro’s top international drivers including Alberto Picco, the Picco Engine factory being about 30-minutes away, former 200mm World Champion Daniele Ielasi and Francesco Tironi, who lives just 2km away.  In terms of lap times in 1:10 at good lap is a mid to late 19-seconds while in 1:8, the F1 of r/c racing, the cars are running a lap of the track in late 17-seconds.  With the ENS running a controlled tyre system, a different manufacturer supporting each round, at Mini Track Ayrton Senna all drivers will race the weekend on Matrix tyres.

Image Gallery