By: More than three years after the devastating floods that struck Emilia-Romagna and also led to the cancellation of the 2023 Imola Grand Prix, the bond between Charles Leclerc and the local area has become increasingly strong and tangible. The Ferrari driver returned to Imola today to personally open the new multipurpose civic centre in Spazzate Sassatelli, built in part thanks to his substantial donation.
The facility, opened this afternoon at 22 Via Cardinala, stands on the site previously occupied by the hamlet’s old schools and is one of the projects funded by the fundraising campaign launched by Leclerc immediately after the flooding in May 2023.
At the time, the Monegasque driver chose to auction some of his most important memorabilia, including the race suit, helmet and gloves he had used in Formula 1, with the proceeds going to people affected by the emergency. Years on, that gesture continues to deliver tangible results.
The new civic centre has a total value of almost €530,000 and was funded largely through the Ferrari driver’s donation. Nor is it the first project made possible by Leclerc’s contribution: in recent months, a new outpatient clinic between Via Cardinala and Via Benelli and the redevelopment of the playground near the Santerno river and the Autodromo have already been opened.
Leclerc returns to Imola
Leclerc arrived in Spazzate Sassatelli at around 6pm, welcomed by the City of Imola Musical Band, which performed the Italian and Monegasque national anthems. Emilia-Romagna regional president Michele de Pascale, Imola mayor Marco Panieri, Bishop Giovanni Mosciatti and numerous local residents also attended the ceremony.
Following the blessing of the new premises and the official speeches, the Ferrari driver took part in the ribbon-cutting before touring the facility and meeting the community he had chosen to help during one of the most difficult periods in the area’s recent history.
The new building, measuring around 128 square metres, has been built as a nearly zero-energy structure and includes a multipurpose hall for meetings and public activities, a second room, services and technical areas. It is a genuine focal point designed to restore a gathering place for the hamlet following the damage caused by the floods.
Of particular significance was the thanks offered to Leclerc by regional president Michele de Pascale, who underlined how the solidarity shown during the emergency had now become something concrete and long-lasting, set to remain available to the community.
Imola mayor Marco Panieri echoed those sentiments, recalling how the driver had chosen to personally support the area, turning some symbols of his sporting career into real assistance. The new civic centre is therefore the third tangible outcome of that charitable initiative, following the projects dedicated to healthcare and green space.
Cover photo www.comune.imola.bo.it
