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A delight for your eyes, ears and your camera lens
Montréal, May 18, 2011 – Octane Racing Group is pleased to announce the return of the popular Grand Prix du Canada “Open House Day” at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve on June 9, from 9 am to noon. Montréal fans and visitors to our fair city will be able to access the track by the Montréal subway system exiting at Métro Station Jean-Drapeau. They will be allowed to stroll down the pit lane in front of the Formula 1 World Championship team garages. According to tradition, the teams will open wide their garage doors to enable everyone to watch the crews busy readying the open-wheel cars of Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Rosberg and the “other gods of racing”.
“Last year, during the return of the Grand Prix du Canada ”Open House Day”, the Formula 1 teams, drivers and crews were very cooperative with visitors,” said François Dumontier, President of Grand Prix du Canada and of Octane Racing Group, promoter of the event. “That was our first contact with fans following a 24-month absence. The events that followed, notably the great success of the Grand Evening Gala, and the impressive crowd that jammed the stands for the three days of the Grand Prix, really pleased the teams. I am convinced they remember it all and that they will be quite generous with the fans in 2011.”
On the eve of the first practice sessions on the Montréal track, each and everyone armed with a camera will be able to pose for posterity only a few meters away from the most spectacular racecars in the world. Formula 1 team personnel is generally happy to answer questions from fans. Additionally, several teams usually work on pit stop simulations on Thursday morning, to the delight of the crowd. These turn out to be quite speedy as teams no longer have to fuel their cars during a stop.
Supporting events and a trophy that once belonged to Gilles Villeneuve
Aside from the pit lane stroll in front of the F1 team garages, the general public will also be able to see support-race cars – the Ferrari Challenge, GT3 Porsche Cup, Formula 1600 and the historic Grand Prix single seaters. These historic cars are authentic Formula 1 that previously raced in the World Championship, some of them in Montréal in the seventies and eighties. Race officials, as well as drivers from these championship series will also be on hand on Thursday to answer questions from visitors. For a few dollars, fans can support the Gilles-Villeneuve Museum by having their picture taken next to a trophy that once belonged to the late racing hero.
Public transportation and access to the site
Those who wish to take a morning off and enjoy a day at the track during the Grand Prix ”Open House day” must use the Montreal subway system (Métro) to reach the Jean-Drapeau station located on Ile Sainte-Hélène. They will be then directed to the track via the Cosmos Bridge where they will be transported to the pit lane by shuttle busses. Once visiting hours are over, by noon at the latest, fans will return to their original point of departure by the same mode of transportation. Once again this year, tickets are not required to attend the event.
The right moment to get a copy of the Official Grand Prix Program
During the Open House Day at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, fans will have the opportunity to buy a copy of the 2011 Official Grand Prix Program for only $10, a must for all race aficionados. It contains a full description of all the teams and drivers entered in the 2011 World Championship, an exquisite visual guide that also includes several fully illustrated F1 stories. Signature Grand Prix du Canada clothing and other souvenirs are also available during ”Open House Day”.
Fans wishing to buy grandstand and general admission tickets can contact the Grand Prix du Canada box office seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 514 350-0000, or order online anytime at www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca. Organizers are also offering a variety of corporate packages for both small and large companies and other groups who wish to attend the 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. To make a reservation or to obtain further information on corporate packages, please contact Julie Rioux-Paquette at 514 350-4731.
A Canadian company established in Montreal, Octane Racing Group Inc. is the promoter of the FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA by virtue of an agreement made with Formula One Administration Limited and Formula 1 World Championship Limited (together the holder of commercialization rights to F1).
© RIF | Octane Racing Group
