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Monza, Italy
About
Built in 1922, Autodromo Nazionale Monza is one of the oldest and most revered racetracks in the world. Nestled within the lush Royal Villa of Monza park, just north of Milan, Italy, this legendary circuit is affectionately known as the “Temple of Speed.” It stands as the third permanent racetrack ever constructed, following only Brooklands in the UK and Indianapolis in the US.
Monza’s modern 5.793 km (3.600 mi) Grand Prix layout is a masterpiece of high-speed design, deceptively simple yet incredibly challenging. The circuit is defined by its long, flat-out straights that are punctuated by a series of tight chicanes designed to control speed. These are linked by fast, sweeping corners like the iconic Ascari chicane, the two Lesmos, and the final Parabolica, which launches cars onto the main straight.
The layout's emphasis on straight-line performance is extreme, with drivers spending nearly 80% of the lap at full throttle, making it the fastest track on many international calendars. This unique challenge forces teams to run their cars in a special low-downforce configuration, prioritizing raw top speed at the expense of grip in the corners. As a result, the track demands not only immense engine power but also extreme bravery and precision from the driver under braking.
For over a century, Monza has been a proving ground for speed and has hosted countless historic moments, most notably the annual Formula One Italian Grand Prix. The passionate Italian fans, known as the tifosi, create an unrivaled atmosphere, celebrating the circuit's rich heritage. With its preserved historic banking still visible today, Monza remains a pilgrimage site for racing enthusiasts, where the classic design and minimal runoff areas mean that glory and disaster are often separated by the narrowest of margins.
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Track Information
Location: Monza, Italy
Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
FIA Grade: 1
Surface: Asphalt
Length: 5.793 km (3.600 miles)
Turns: 11
Grid Size: 29
Downforce Level: Low
Capacity: 118,865
Opened: 17 March 1938
Race lap record:
Time: 1:21.046
Driver/Country: Rubens Barrichello, Brazil
Car: Ferrari F2004
Date: 2004
Event: F1
Downforce Requirements
Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a low downforce circuit for GT3 cars. The circuit is defined by ultra-long straights and fast sweeping corners, making it one of the most extreme low downforce circuits on the calendar. The vast majority of lap time is dictated by straight-line speed between chicanes, so the main priority is to minimize drag through reduced rear wing and front splitter settings. Nearly all GT3 teams run the lowest possible rear wing level, only increasing it marginally if a car becomes too nervous or difficult to control through key corners like Lesmo 2 or Ascari. In rare cases, a slightly higher wing can actually improve exit speed onto the straight, offsetting the loss of top speed with better acceleration and traction
Setup Tips
Core Setup Philosophy
At Monza, the ideal setup sacrifices maximum downforce for high top speed, but must ensure basic rear-end stability under heavy braking and across brutal curb strikes in the chicanes. The car should be predictable and able to ride the curbs without destabilizing, as aggressive curb riding is vital for shorter lap times.
Key Setup Tips
Rear Wing: Always start at the lowest available wing setting. If a car feels uncontrollable on corner exit, try adding 1-2 clicks. Most lap time comes from straight-line speed, not cornering grip.
Front Aero (Splitter/Canards): Pair a low rear wing with a splitter setting that manages front-end bite, but avoid excess sharpness to prevent instability through chicanes and high-speed corners.
Ride Height: Use a slightly higher ride height than minimum for curb absorption, particularly in the first chicane and Ascari. Too low risks severe bottoming out, which can cost stability.
Suspension: Opt for relatively soft settings to maximize curb compliance and longitudinal stability; avoid making the car too stiff for Monza’s notorious curbs.
Brake Balance: Shift brake bias rearward to manage hard deceleration into the chicanes. Cars should remain stable and confidently controlled under threshold braking.
Race Pace Targets
GT3 Record
1:47.234
Alien
100%: 1:46.711
Competetive
101%: 1:47.778
102%: 1:48.845
Top Split
103%: 1:49.912
104%: 1:50.979
Midpack
105%: 1:52.046
106%: 1:53.113
Backmarker
107%: 1:54.180
108%: 1:55.247
GT3 Lap Record
Lap Time: 1:47.234
Driver: Thomas Preining
Car: Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)
Team: Rutronik Racing
Race: 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
Track Walk
Turn: 1
Variante del Rettifilo - Entry
Turn 1, is a high-speed, heavy-braking right-hander that kicks off the lap. It’s one of the most iconic overtaking zones in GT racing, but also one of the easiest places to ruin a lap, or a race if you’re not precise.
- Brake Marker: Brake just before the 150m board on the left side of the straight.
- Brake Input: Full braking force, straight-line stability is critical.
- Apex Speed: Aim for 80–90 km/h
- Apex Gear: 2nd
- Line: Hug the flat inside curb on the right. Avoid the yellow sausage curb
- Exit: Immeadiate transition into T2. Keep the car tight and balanced.
- Focus: This is a brake-turn-transition sequence. Over-slowing or missing the apex compromises Turn 2 and your run into Biassono. Think of T1 as the setup for the rhythm through T2 and beyond
Turn: 2
Variante del Rettifilo - Exit
Turn 2, is a tight, low-speed left-hander that follows the heavy braking and right flick of Turn 1. It’s all about managing weight transfer and throttle modulation to get a clean exit onto the short straight toward Curva Biassono.
- Brake Marker: No additional braking: carry momentum from Turn 1
- Brake Input: A brief lift and dab of the brakes after the Turn 1 apex to rotate the car.
- Apex Gear: 2nd gear, short-shift to 3rd on exit
- Apex Speed: Aim for 75–85 km/h
- Line: Clip the inside left curb cleanly, avoid the raised sausage curb
- Exit: Let the car drift out to the right-hand side, use available track to maximize exit
- Focus: Smooth steering and throttle inputs are key. Over-rotating or rushing the throttle will compromise your run into Biassono. Think of T1–T2 as a single braking event with a double apex rhythm.
Turn: 3
Curva Biassono
Turn 3, is a long, flat-out right-hander that follows the Rettifilo chicane. It’s deceptively simple but absolutely critical for lap time, as it sets up your entry into the Variante della Roggia. Any hesitation here costs dearly on the long run to Turn 4.
- Brake Marker: This section is flat-out
- Brake Input: None, this is a full-throttle commitment corner
- Apex Gear: 5th gear, possibly 6th
- Line: Stay tight to the inside curb early, let the car naturally drift out mid-corner
- Exit: Let the car run out to the left-hand side of the track, maximizing momentum into the Roggia braking zone
- Focus: This is a confidence corner. A clean exit from Turn 2 lets you stay flat through Biassono. Any lift or correction here will cost tenths before the next chicane. Avoid scrubbing speed with unnecessary steering input.
Turn: 4
Variante della Roggia - Entry
Turn 4, is a medium-speed left-hander that kicks off the second chicane. It follows the flat-out Curva Biassono, so braking stability and curb control are critical. This corner sets the rhythm for the left flick of Turn 5.
- Brake Marker: Brake at the 100m board on the left.
- Brake Input: Firm initial braking, trail-brake to rotate the car into the left-hander
- Apex Gear: 3rd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 105–115 km/h
- Line: Clip the inside left curb cleanly. Avoid the raised sausage curb
- Exit: Stay mid-track to prepare for the quick right of Turn 5
- Focus: Think of T4–T5 as a fluid S-section. Over-slowing here kills rhythm. Prioritize a clean entry and early throttle to carry speed into Lesmo 1
Turn: 5
Variante della Roggia - Exit
Turn 5, is a medium-speed right-hander that completes the second chicane. It demands a quick transition from Turn 4 and rewards precision over aggression. A clean exit here sets up the long run into Lesmo 1.
- Brake Marker: No additional braking: carry momentum from Turn 4
- Brake Input: Light throttle modulation; focus on balance rather than deceleration
- Apex Speed: Aim for 110–120 km/h
- Apex Gear: 3rd
- Line: Clip the inside right curb smoothly. Avoid the inner sausage curb to maintain stability
- Exit: Let the car run out wide to the left, using all available track
- Focus: Prioritize throttle timing and steering finesse. A clean exit maximizes speed into the Lesmos and keeps tire temps in check
Turn: 6
Curva di Lesmo 1
Turn 6, is a medium-speed right-hander that begins the technical middle sector. It follows the fast exit from Variante della Roggia, so car balance and throttle discipline are key. A clean line here sets up momentum for Lesmo 2 and the long run to Ascari.
- Brake Marker: Brake just before the 50m board on the left
- Brake Input: Firm initial braking, trail-brake deep into the corner to rotate the car
- Apex Gear: 3rd
- Apex Speed: Aim for 115–125 km/h
- Line: Hug the inside curb without climbing it to minimize distance and maximize traction
- Exit: Let the car drift out to the left curb, avoid touching the gravel
- Focus: Prioritize a stable entry and early throttle. Over-rotation here ruins the Lesmo 2 approach and kills speed down the straight
Turn: 7
Curva di Lesmo 2
Turn 7, is a medium-speed right-hander that completes the Lesmo sequence. It’s narrower and more technical than Lesmo 1, with a slightly downhill exit that feeds into the long straight toward Ascari. Precision and throttle timing are everything.
- Brake Marker: Brake just before the 50m board on the left
- Brake Input: Firm initial braking, trail-brake slightly to rotate the car into the apex
- Apex Speed: Aim for 110–120 km/h
- Apex Gear: 3rd
- Line: Clip the inside right curb cleanly. Avoid the outer edge of the curb
- Exit: Let the car run out wide to the left, but stay off the gravel and grass.
- Focus: Maximize exit speed for the long straight to Ascari. Early throttle and minimal steering correction are key to keeping momentum
Turn: 8
Variante Ascari - Entry
Turn 8, is a fast left-hander that opens the triple-corner Ascari chicane. It’s one of the most rhythm-sensitive sections of the lap, demanding high-speed stability, precise curb usage, and a setup that can handle aggressive direction changes.
- Brake Marker: Brake just before the 100m board on the left
- Brake Input: Firm initial braking, then trail-brake slightly to rotate the car into the left entry
- Apex Gear: 4th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 140–150 km/h
- Line: Clip the inside left curb smoothly. Avoid the sausage curb
- Exit: Stay mid-track to prepare for the right flick of Turn 9
- Focus: Think of Ascari as a flowing triple apex. Turn 8 sets the rhythm—if you’re late or off-balance here, the rest of the chicane falls apart
Turn: 9
Variante Ascari - Mid
Turn 9, is a fast right-hander that forms the middle link of the Ascari chicane. It follows the left entry of T8 and demands razor-sharp direction change, curb precision, and throttle control. Get this wrong and the whole sequence collapses.
- Brake Marker: No additional braking: carry momentum from Turn 8
- Brake Input: Light throttle modulation; use steering input to rotate the car quickly
- Apex Speed: Aim for 145–155 km/h
- Apex Gear: 4th
- Line: Clip the inside right curb cleanly. Avoid the inner sausage curb
- Exit: Stay mid-track to set up the left flick of Turn 10, running wide will compromise the final chicane exit
- Focus: Prioritize balance and rhythm. Turn 9 is all about flow—too much steering or throttle kills momentum and destabilizes the car
Turn: 10
Variante Ascari - Exit
Turn 10, is a fast left-hander that completes the Ascari chicane. It’s the final flick in a high-speed triple-corner sequence, and it sets up the long straight toward Parabolica. A clean, balanced exit here is crucial for lap time and overtaking potential.
- Brake Marker: No braking: carry momentum from Turn 9
- Brake Input: Smooth throttle modulation; focus on steering precision
- Apex Gear: 4th
- Apex Speed: Aim for 145–155 km/h
- Line: Clip the inside left curb cleanly. Avoid the raised sausage curb
- Exit: Let the car run out wide to the right, using all available track. Stay off the gravel to maintain traction
- Focus: Maximize exit speed for the long straight to Parabolica. Early throttle and minimal steering correction are key to keeping momentum alive
Turn: 11
Curva Parabolica
Turn 11, is a long, high-speed right-hander that closes the lap. It’s one of Monza’s most iconic corners, demanding bravery, throttle discipline, and setup confidence. A strong exit here is critical for the top speed run down into Turn 1, and for setting up overtakes.
- Brake Marker: Brake just before the 100m board on the left
- Brake Input: Firm initial braking, trail-brake deep into the corner to rotate the car
- Apex Speed: Aim for 135–145 km/h
- Apex Gear: 4th
- Line: Hug the inside curb. Stay tight early, then gradually release steering to open the exit
- Exit: Let the car run out wide to the left, using all available track. Prioritize throttle application over apex tightness
- Focus: Maximize exit speed for the long straight. Smooth throttle and steering inputs are key, any snap or correction here costs tenths all the way to Turn 1
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