The upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix is predicted to be bombarded with wild weather this weekend, with the Italian region grappling with torrential rain and flood warnings.
The Imola Regional Weather Service has issued a red level rain warning – the highest level possible – with forecasters predicting almost 160mm of rain on Tuesday and a further 110mm on Wednesday, The Herald Sun reports.
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The rain is expected to ease ahead of this weekend’s race, but Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session is predicted to be hit by fresh rainfall and a potential storm.
Earlier this month, two people in the Emilia-Romagna region were killed due to extreme flooding, with hundreds forced to flee their homes. A spokesperson confirmed the Imola track had not been damaged during the carnage.
The threat of floods and landslides has prompted calls for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, which is scheduled to get underway at 11pm AEST on Sunday evening, to be abandoned.
Red Bull champion Max Verstappen won races in Imola in 2021 and 2022, both of which were hit with rain.