San Marino GP preview - facts and figures.

The fourth round of the 2004 FIA Formula One World Championship takes place this weekend at Imola in Italy. Here you can find out some relevant facts and figures for the San Marino GP...

1. Location:

Imola has a population of approximately 65,000, is situated in the Emilia Romagna region and located in the province of Bologna.

The Republic of San Marino, after which the Grand Prix is named, covers an area of just 60 square kilometres and lies to the southeast of Imola.

2. History:

Imola's motor sport history dates back to the 1940s when the town's races were held on public roads. It wasn't until 1950, however, that work began to construct a permanent race track. Work was finally completed in 1952.

Formula One made its debut in Imola on 21st April 1963. Jim Clark, in a Lotus, took the victory, although the race was not an official round of the Formula One World Championship.

Formula One did not return to Imola for a further fifteen years after the inaugural race but, on 19th September 1979, the sound of Formula One cars once again reverberated through the streets for the Dino Ferrari Grand Prix.

Imola has hosted a round of the FIA Formula One World Championship every year since the Italian Grand Prix was staged on 14th September 1980. With two races held in Italy from 1981 onwards, Imola's race became known as the San Marino Grand Prix.

In total, Imola has hosted 24 World Championship events.

In 1988, the circuit was officially named 'Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari Imola.'

3. Track length:

One lap of the circuit equates to 4.933 kilometres. With a race distance of 62 laps, the drivers will cover 305.609 kilometres.

The San Marino Grand Prix starts at 14:00 hrs local time on Sunday 25th April 2004.

4. Last year:

Last year, Ferrari #1 Michael Schumacher took pole position with a lap time of 1 minute 22.327 seconds. He also set a new lap record - 1m 22.491s - and went on to win the race.

5. Did you know?

Races at Imola are run in an anti-clockwise direction.