A great turnout marked the opening day of the Village of the Mezza Maratona d’Italia – Enzo Ferrari Memorial. As the central hub of the three-day celebration of sport and community, the Village—located in Maranello on Via Dino Ferrari—is open to both runners and visitors, who can collect their race kits, discover the initiatives connected to the event, and explore the new features presented by the event’s partners.
In the morning, the ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened the Village, attended by Head of Mass Events at RCS Sports & Events Luca Onofrio; for the Municipality of Maranello, Mayor Luigi Zironi and Deputy Mayor Chiara Ferrari; for the Municipality of Fiorano Modenese, the Councillor for Environment and Mobility, Agenda 2030 and Education for New Generations, Sports and Facilities, Healthy Lifestyles, and Digitalization Luca Busani; for the Municipality of Formigine, the Councillor for Commerce, Events, Tourism, Territorial Promotion and Urban Decor in the City of Longevity Corrado Bizzini; and for the Municipality of Modena, the Councillor for Sports, Culture, Tourism and City Promotion, and Youth Policies Andrea Bortolamasi.
Top runners at the start
The afternoon was dedicated to the presentation of the elite athletes who will line up on Sunday. One of this year’s potential protagonists is Kenyan Dennis Kipruto, with a personal best of 1h00’17”, who will be competing against compatriot Shadrack Kipngetich Koech and Ugandan Alex Kiplangat, with respective times of 1h01’12” and 1h01’38”. For Italy, former Azzurri Ahmed El Mazoury (Vanotti Running Team) will be on the starting line, while Moroccan Abdelkarim Ezzouhri (Atl Mondovì Acqua S. Bernardo) also draws attention.
“On Sunday I can run at the pace of my personal best, I can beat myself. I am confident about this and I also want to try to break the course record of 59’20” set in 2025 — I can do it,” said Kenyan Dennis Kipruto from the stage as he showed the bib he will be wearing on Sunday morning.
Among the women, all eyes are on Kenyans Regina Wambui Ndungu and Susan Wanjiku Kamoto, who have both clocked impressive times: 1h07’10” and 1h07’56”, respectively, both recorded in 2026. Italy fields former Azzurra and European Mountain Running bronze medallist (2016), as well as reigning national half marathon champion, Sara Bottarelli (Freezone), who, with a steadily improving performance trend, matched her personal best set in 2025 by stopping the clock at 1h11’31”. Also representing Italy are cross‑country twins Laura and Elena Ribigin (Atl. ARCS CUS Perugia), with times of 1h19’19” and 1h20’58”.
“I’m happy to be here in Maranello for this Mezza Maratona d’Italia. I’m in great shape, I will give my best on Sunday. My goal is to set a new personal best and go under the 1h07’00” barrier. I came close in Lisbon a few weeks ago. This could be the right Sunday,” declared pre‑race favourite Regina Wambui Ndungu.
The 5K: a Family Run that reveals the Ferrari landmarks
Tomorrow it will be the turn of the 5 km non‑competitive race, the first of the three distances scheduled to open the doors of the legend. The Family Run, hugely popular and inclusive, will bring over 3,500 participants and runners inside the Ferrari Factory, fulfilling the dream of running through the iconic places where the myth of the Prancing Horse was born, and experiencing the emotions of the Fiorano Track and, for the first time, the new e‑Vortex circuit.
The 5 km on Saturday, designed for families, schools, and running enthusiasts, will start at 3:00 p.m. from the Museo Ferrari in Maranello. The looped route will pass through the town, celebrating sharing and an inclusive spirit. With the same spirit, the Village on Via Dino Ferrari in Maranello will be open to everyone from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., continuing the celebration with stands, activities, and entertainment that enrich the event beyond its competitive dimension.
Among the many scheduled activities is the Shakeout Run by Brooks, open to all (10:30 a.m.); the autograph session with Maya Weug, vice champion of the F1 Academy (11:30 a.m.); and the welcome moment led by Ferrari, presenting the medals to the winners in the presence of Michele Antoniazzi, Ferrari Chief Human Resources Officer (1:45 p.m.), followed by the awards ceremony for the primary school classes that won the “Scuole in corsa” project, which highlights the connection between sport, education, and the local community.
Every element of this festive weekend has been designed to offer a broad and inclusive sports and social experience, one that brings together innovation and tradition, history and territorial identity, and a strong sense of community.
Sunday’s race
On Sunday, March 29, the Mezza Maratona d’Italia – Memorial Enzo Ferrari will start at 9:30 a.m.: the 21.097 km race will depart from Maranello and head straight into the heart of Modena, while at 10:00 a.m. the 10 km race will set off on a looped course starting and finishing at the Museo Ferrari.
Registration numbers are remarkable, with runners coming from all over Italy and abroad: 15,000 participants, 32% of whom are international runners, representing a total of 88 nations. The most represented countries include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Poland, the United States, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, and Slovakia.
The event, organized by RCS Sports & Events with Ferrari as hosting partner, offers an engaging experience from start to finish along the streets of Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine, and Modena—territories united by passion, heart, and community spirit. And it is a spirit fully embodied by the more than 350 volunteers, the over eighty sports associations and third‑sector organizations coordinated by the Coordinamento Podistico Modenese. Students involved in the “Scuole in corsa” project will also take part, along with those who will benefit from the redevelopment initiatives funded by the event.
The full program is available at: mezzamaratonaditalia.it/en
The social project: an investment in young people and the local community
The Mezza Maratona d’Italia reaffirms its social value, with the aim of creating a positive long‑term impact and supporting initiatives that make sport increasingly accessible to everyone in the municipalities crossed by the race: Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine and Modena. The proceeds from the event, net of organizational costs, will be allocated to the renovation and improvement of sports and school facilities, leaving a tangible legacy on the territory and creating a widespread project that promotes sport, inclusion and well‑being, with particular attention to younger generations and the community.
In Maranello, the interventions concern the “Galilei‑Ferrari” and “Stradi” schools, with the renewal of athletic and football areas;
in Fiorano Modenese, the project includes refurbishing the basketball court and building a new five‑a‑side football pitch at the Menotti sports center in Spezzano;
Formigine will renovate the Colombaro gym, adding new sports facilities to support football and volleyball activities;
finally, Modena plans to renew the floors of the gyms at the “Gramsci”, “Palestrina” and “Buon Pastore” schools, replacing the sports flooring.
Traffic information
On the occasion of the Mezza Maratona d’Italia – Memorial Enzo Ferrari, on Saturday March 28 and Sunday March 29, changes to traffic conditions are planned in the municipalities of Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine and Modena. In these days, in different areas, parking restrictions will also be in place. Please pay attention to the signs posted on site.
Municipality of Maranello
Saturday, March 28: from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Via Alfredo Dino Ferrari, Via Fornace, Via Enzo Ferrari, Via Abetone Inferiore, Via Musso.
From 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Via Tazio Nuvolari.
Sunday, March 29: from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Via Enzo Ferrari, Via Abetone Inferiore crossing, Rotonda Via Grizzaga, Via Toscana, Via Martinella, Via Vignola, Rotonda Via 8 Marzo, Via 8 Marzo, Rotonda Via Zozzi, Via Zozzi, Via Nazionale, Viale Vittorio Veneto, Via Fogliano, Via Claudia, Rotonda Via Nazionale–Viale Alfredo Dino Ferrari, Via Michele Alboreto, Via Trebbo Nord, Via Giardini SP3.
From 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Via Alfredo Dino Ferrari, Via Nazionale, Via Fornace, Via Tazio Nuvolari.
Municipality of Fiorano Modenese
Saturday, March 28: from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Via Gilles Villeneuve.
Sunday, March 29: from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Ubersetto — Via Giardini SP3.
From 6:00 a.m.: Via Gilles Villeneuve.
Municipality of Formigine
Sunday, March 29: from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Via Giardini Sud SP3, Via Trento e Trieste — Piazza della Repubblica, Via Giardini Nord SP3, Casinalbo — Via Pietro Giardini Nord SP486.
Modena
Sunday, March 29: from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Baggiovara, Via Pietro Giardini Nord, Piazza del Risorgimento, Corso Canalchiaro, Corso Duomo, Via Emilia centro, Via Luigi Carlo Farini, Largo San Giorgio, Piazza Roma.
Partners 2026
Many partners have chosen to run alongside RCS Sports & Events for the Mezza Maratona d’Italia.
Institutions include the Province of Modena and the Municipalities of Maranello, Fiorano Modenese, Formigine and Modena, as well as the Italian Athletics Federation, which supports the event; OPES (Organization for Sports Education) and FISPES (Italian Federation for Paralympic and Experimental Sports).
Essential to their support, in addition to other partners, are technical sponsor Brooks Running, sports nutrition partner Cetilar Nutrition (Sport Nutrition Partner), Fiat (Mobility Partner), Acqua Panna (Official Mineral Water), Dole (Official Supplier), Kerakoll (Official Supplier), Hera and Sebach (Supplier), and media partners Gazzetta di Modena and Radio Bruno.
