Ferrari pledges €1 million to Emilia Romagna flood relief efforts

Ferrari has donated €1 million to support the relief efforts for the flood-affected region of Emilia Romagna.

This weekend's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola – the sixth round of the 2023 F1 World Championship – was canceled on Wednesday due to the devastating impact of extreme weather in Emilia Romagna which has led to the worst flooding in 100 years in the area.

The devastation has left several dead and thousands homeless after the torrential downpour caused many riverbanks to burst.

In the wake of the ravages that led to the cancellation of this weekend's race, Ferrari has stepped up to support the region's relief effort with a generous donation of €1 million to the Emilia-Romagna Region's Agency for Territorial Safety and Civil Protection.

• Read also: De Vries caught up in Faenza floods near AlphaTauri HQ

The act of solidarity highlights the deep-rooted connection that Ferrari maintains with its hometown of Maranello and the surrounding Emilia Romagna region.

By standing by its local community during these challenging times, Ferrari exemplifies its genuine concern for the well-being and recovery of the people and places that have helped shaped its illustrious history.

"In times of difficulty, Ferrari has always stood by its community," commented Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna.

“We wanted to provide a concrete and immediate response to the most urgent needs of the population of Emilia-Romagna, which has been tried by a serious environmental disaster.

“With the coordination of the local authorities, to whom our heartfelt thanks go for their tireless work, this aid will bring comfort and a tangible sign of the solidarity of the entire Ferrari family."

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On Thursday, essential F1 personnel was allowed access to the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari to help pack up their equipment ahead of next week's Monaco Grand Prix.

Formula 1 has yet to make a permanent call on the fate of Imola's canceled race but it appears unlikely that the event will be rescheduled for later this year.

The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is the second race to fall off F1's 2023 calendar, with the Chinese Grand Prix initially scheduled in April being scrapped from the sport's agenda due to the country's Covid restrictions.

"On behalf of everyone working at Scuderia Ferrari I would like to express our deepest sympathy to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy," said Scuderia boss Frederic Vasseur.

"Emilia-Romagna is our homeland and it’s heartbreaking to see what people are going through at the moment."

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