Runners will be granted access to one of the most famous and normally inaccessible sites in motoring next spring, with entries now open for a half marathon through Ferrari’s factory grounds and test circuit.
The Mezza Maratona d’Italia Memorial Enzo Ferrari returns on Sunday, March 14th, 2027, taking runners from Maranello to Modena through the heart of Italy’s Motor Valley.
This is not a ballot. Places can be booked directly, and the first entry window costs €33 plus a €2 service charge. A total of 10,000 places are available for the half marathon, but the previous edition sold out, so anyone tempted by it would be wise not to leave matters sitting in the pit lane for too long.
A half marathon inside Ferrari territory
The race begins at 9.30am outside the Ferrari Museum in Maranello. From there, runners enter Ferrari’s private factory grounds before reaching the Fiorano Circuit, the test track used by the company since 1972.
These areas are normally closed to the public, making this far more than a standard city road race. Entrants get the rare chance to run through places usually reserved for Ferrari staff, engineers and test drivers.
After leaving Maranello, the course continues through Fiorano Modenese and Formigine, passing the town’s medieval castle, before heading into Modena.
The closing kilometres take runners past the Ghirlandina Tower, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before the finish in Piazza Roma in front of the Ducal Palace.
Organisers describe the route as fast and flowing, so there may be a personal best on offer once runners have finished gawking at their surroundings.
When is the 2027 race?
The half marathon takes place on Sunday, March 14th, 2027, with a 9.30am start.
Runners have three hours to complete the course. Refreshment stations will be positioned every five kilometres, while pacers are planned for finishing times ranging from 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 24 minutes.
The event forms part of a full weekend in Maranello. The Running Show opens on Friday, March 12th, while the 5K Family and Fans Run takes place on Saturday, March 13th.
How much does entry cost?
Entry prices for the half marathon rise in three stages:
- €33 from September 14th to October 31st, 2026
- €38 from November 1st to December 31st, 2026
- €43 from January 1st to February 28th, 2027
A €2 service charge is added during registration.
Entries are due to close at 11.59pm on February 28th, 2027, or earlier if all 10,000 places are taken. Entry fees cannot be refunded or moved to the 2028 race. A place may be transferred to another runner until February 18th for a €10 administration charge.
Registration is available through the official Mezza Maratona d’Italia website.
Can runners from Ireland enter?
Yes. The half marathon offers two entry categories for runners travelling from Ireland. The competitive and non competitive options cost exactly the same and take place on the same course at the same time.
The competitive half marathon is for runners with current Athletics Ireland membership. As Athletics Ireland is affiliated to World Athletics, these entrants can take part in the official competition and appear in the competitive results. They may be asked to provide a declaration confirming their membership.
The non competitive half marathon is open to Irish runners without Athletics Ireland membership. No membership is required. These runners start alongside the competitive field and complete the same route, but receive a different race number and are placed in a separate alphabetical list of finishers rather than the official competitive results.
Entrants choosing the non competitive option must accept the health information form and liability waiver during registration. The rules state that they must have been born in 2009 or earlier.
Are there shorter races?
There are two shorter options, and both also include access to Ferrari’s factory grounds and the Fiorano Circuit.
The non competitive 10K Speed Up Run starts at 11am on Sunday, March 14th. It begins and finishes outside the Ferrari Museum and has a two hour time limit. Entry costs €15 plus the service fee until October 31st, with 2,500 places available.
The 5K Family and Fans Run begins at 4pm on Saturday, March 13th. It is open to runners and walkers, starts and finishes at the Ferrari Museum and has a 75 minute time limit. Early entry costs €9 per person, or €8 per person for groups of three or more. The race has space for 5,000 participants.
There is also a combined option for runners who want to complete the 5K on Saturday and the half marathon on Sunday.
Getting there from Ireland
Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport is the most convenient airport listed by the organisers. It is around 43 kilometres from Maranello and Modena. Public transport from Bologna takes about 43 minutes to Modena and roughly 1 hour 50 minutes to Maranello.
Staying in either Modena or Maranello should work well. The organisers plan to provide free bookable shuttle buses between the two towns before and after the half marathon, with booking details due to be emailed to entrants closer to race weekend.
There is one important point for anyone travelling from Ireland. Race numbers will only be available from the Running Show outside the Ferrari Museum between 9am and 7pm on Friday and Saturday. There will be no collection on race morning, so arriving in Italy on Sunday is not an option.
A race trip with a difference
The event only began in 2025, but it has grown at some rate. Organisers reported 15,000 participants across all distances in 2026, with one third coming from outside Italy and 88 nations represented.
There are plenty of half marathons in scenic cities. There are not many that take runners through a working Ferrari factory, around a private test circuit and past a UNESCO listed tower before finishing outside a ducal palace.
For runners who also happen to follow Formula One, this could be one of the most memorable race trips on the 2027 calendar. At €35 including the service charge during the opening price window, it is not outrageously priced either. The flights and hotel may do a little more damage, mind you.
