Chevrolet Grand Prix Explained

Race Title:Chevrolet Grand Prix
Series Long:IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
Series Short:WSCC
Venue:Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Sponsor:Chevrolet
First Race:1975
First Series Race:2014
Duration:2 hours 40 minutes
Previous Names:Mosport 6 Hours, Mosport 1000, Mosport 500, Mosport Festival, Grand Prix of Mosport, Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix
Most Wins Driver:Lucas Luhr (5)
Most Wins Team:Audi Sport North America (6)
Most Wins Manufacturer:Porsche (8)

The Chevrolet Grand Prix is an annual IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race held every July at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada.[1] The race originated in 1975 and is currently a two hour and forty minute race in order to fit the event into a television-friendly package. Previous editions of the Grand Prix were part of the World Sportscar Championship, the American Le Mans Series and the IMSA GT Championship.

History

In 1961 the first international professional sportscar races at Mosport Park took place with the inaugural Players 200 in June won by Stirling Moss and the first Canadian Grand Prix won by Peter Ryan in September as part of the Canadian Sportscar Championship.[2] [3] [4] In 1966 the Grand Prix became part of the inaugural Can-Am Series season before becoming a Formula One Grand Prix in 1967.[5] The Mosport Can-Am races continued to be part of the Can-Am series through to its demise in 1986 with the track hosting more Can-Am races than any other facility.

In 1975, the International Motor Sports Association sportscars visited the track for the first time when it’s Camel GT Challenge raced during the Labatt's Blue 5000 Weekend sharing the weekend schedule with the SCCA/USAC Formula 5000 Championship.[6] [7] The inaugural 100 mile IMSA race was won by Hurley Haywood in a Porsche Carrera.[8]

The race was included as part of the World Sports Car Championship on six occasions, for the first time in 1976 and for the final time as the 1985 Mosport 1000 which also marked the final FIA World Championship event to be held at the facility.

From 1989 through 1992, IMSA returned to headline GT only races in May and June for their GTO and GTU classes. With the launch of the new World Sports Cars category in 1995, prototypes returned to the track for the first time in a decade for the Chrysler Mosport 500.

In August of 1999, the American Le Mans Series made its first appearance at the track as the new headline IMSA sanctioned series for the renamed Grand Prix of Mosport weekend.[9]

The series reintroduced factory backed prototypes designed for the high speeds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Prototypes from Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Panoz, Porsche and Acura led to the highest speeds ever recorded at the track. The 2008 Grand Prix of Mosport included the fastest ever lap at the circuit taken by Rinaldo Capello during qualifying in an Audi R10 TDI with a time of 1:04.094.[10] [11]

Mosport was one of four tracks that would appear on the American Le Mans Series schedule every year for the next fifteen years of the series existence.[12] In 2014, the Grand Prix continued as part of the new IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship following the merger of the American Le Mans Series and the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.[13] [14]

In 2020 and 2021, the Grand Prix was not held for the first time in a quarter of a century due to the Covid-19 pandemic.[15] [16]

Winners

YearDateDriversTeamCarDistance/DurationRace TitleReport
IMSA GT Championship
1975June 14 Hurley Haywood G.W. DickinsonPorsche Carrera100milesLabatt's Blue 5000 WeekendReport
World Sports Car Championship
1976Aug 22 Jackie Oliver ShadowShadow DN4 Chevrolet200milesPlayer's 200 WeekendReport
1977Aug 20 Ludwig Heimrath
Paul Miller
Heimrath RacingPorsche 934/56 hoursMolson Diamond Can-Am Trans-Am WeekendReport
1978
1979
Not held
World Sportscar Championship & IMSA GT Championship
1980Aug 17 John Fitzpatrick
Brian Redman
Dick Barbour Racing/Sachs USAPorsche 935 K3/806 hoursMolson Canadian 1000Report
1981Aug 16 Harald Grohs
Rolf Stommelen
Andial Meister RacingPorsche 935 K36 hoursMolson 1000Report
IMSA GT Championship
1982Aug 15 John Paul Jr.
John Paul Sr.
JLP RacingPorsche 935 JLP-36 hoursLabatt's 50 GTReport
1983Aug 14 Bob Tullius
Bill Adam
Group 44Jaguar XJR-56 hoursLabatt's GTReport
World Sportscar Championship
1984Aug 5 Jacky Ickx
Jochen Mass
Rothmans PorschePorsche 9561000km (1,000miles)Budweiser GTReport
1985Aug 11 Hans-Joachim Stuck
Derek Bell
Rothmans PorschePorsche 962C1000km (1,000miles)Budweiser GTReport
1986
1987
1988
Not held
IMSA GT Championship
1989June 25 Pete Halsmer Roush RacingMercury Cougar XR-7500km (300miles) (GTO/GTU/AC only)The Audi Quattro IMSA WeekendReport
1990June 24 Steve Millen Cunningham RacingNissan 300ZX300km (200miles) (GTO/GTU/AAC only)The Nissan Grand PrixReport
1991May 20 Pete Halsmer Mazda MotorsportsMazda RX-7300km (200miles) (GTO/GTU/AAC only)The Nissan Grand PrixReport
1992May 18 Jeremy Dale Cunningham RacingNissan 300ZX2 hours (GTS/GTO/GTU only)The Nissan Grand PrixReport
1993
1994
Not held
1995Aug 13 Andy Wallace
James Weaver
Dyson RacingRiley & Scott Mk III-Ford3 HoursChrysler Mosport 500Report
1996Aug 25 Butch Leitzinger
John Paul Jr.
Dyson RacingRiley & Scott Mk III-Ford3 HoursChrysler Mosport 500Report
1997Aug 31 Ron Fellows
Rob Morgan
Central Arkansas RacingFerrari 333 SP2 HoursMosport FestivalReport
1998Aug 9 Butch Leitzinger
James Weaver
Dyson RacingRiley & Scott Mk III-Ford2 hours, 45 minutesMosport FestivalReport
American Le Mans Series
1999June 27 Jan Magnussen
Johnny O'Connell
Panoz Motor SportsPanoz LMP-1 Roadster-S2 hours, 45 minutesThe Grand Prix at MosportReport
2000Aug 6 Rinaldo Capello
Allan McNish
Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R82 hours, 45 minutesThe globemegawheels.com Grand Prix at MosportReport
2001Aug 19 Frank Biela
Emanuele Pirro
Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R82 hours, 45 minutesGran Turismo 3 Grand Prix at MosportReport
2002Aug 18 Rinaldo Capello
Tom Kristensen
Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R82 hours, 45 minutesGrand Prix at Mosport sponsored by mail2web.comReport
2003Aug 17 Frank Biela
Marco Werner
Infineon Team JoestAudi R82 hours, 45 minutesThe Toronto Grand Prix of MosportReport
2004Aug 8 Butch Leitzinger
James Weaver
Dyson RacingMG-Lola EX2572 hours, 45 minutesThe Toronto Grand Prix of MosportReport
2005Sept 4 Butch Leitzinger
James Weaver
Dyson RacingMG-Lola EX2572 hours, 45 minutesLabour Day Weekend Grand Prix of MosportReport
2006Sept 3 Rinaldo Capello
Allan McNish
Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R10 TDI2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Labour Day Weekend Grand Prix of MosportReport
2007Aug 26 Romain Dumas
Timo Bernhard
Penske RacingPorsche RS Spyder Evo2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of MosportReport
2008Aug 24 Lucas Luhr
Marco Werner
Audi Sport North AmericaAudi R10 TDI2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of MosportReport
2009Aug 30 David Brabham
Scott Sharp
Patrón Highcroft RacingAcura ARX-02a2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of MosportReport
2010Aug 29 Romain Dumas
Klaus Graf
Muscle Milk Team CytosportPorsche RS Spyder Evo2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of MosportReport
2011July 24 Klaus Graf
Lucas Luhr
Muscle Milk Aston Martin RacingLola-Aston Martin B08/622 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of MosportReport
2012July 22 Klaus Graf
Lucas Luhr
Muscle Milk Pickett RacingHPD ARX-03a2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of MosportReport
2013July 21 Klaus Graf
Lucas Luhr
Muscle Milk Pickett RacingHPD ARX-03c2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
2014July 13 Olivier Pla
Gustavo Yacamán
OAK RacingMorgan LMP2-Nissan2 hours, 45 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
2015July 12 Jordan Taylor
Ricky Taylor
Wayne Taylor RacingDallara Corvette DP2 hours, 40 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
2016July 10 Dane Cameron
Eric Curran
Whelen Engineering RacingCoyote Corvette DP2 hours, 40 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
2017July 9 Dane Cameron
Eric Curran
Whelen Engineering RacingCadillac DPi-V.R Cadillac LT1 6.2 L V82 hours, 40 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
2018July 8 Colin Braun
Jon Bennett
CORE AutosportOreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V82 hours, 40 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
2019July 7 Oliver Jarvis
Tristan Nunez
Mazda Team JoestMazda RT24-P Mazda MZ-2.0T 2.0 L Turbo I42 hours, 40 minutesMobil 1 SportsCar Grand PrixReport
2020
2021
Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022July 3 Renger van der Zande
Sébastien Bourdais
Cadillac RacingCadillac DPi-V.R Cadillac LT1 5.5 L V82 hours, 40 minutesChevrolet Grand PrixReport
2023July 9 Tom Blomqvist
Colin Braun
Meyer Shank Racing with Curb-AgajanianAcura ARX-06 Acura AR24e 2.4 L Turbo V62 hours, 40 minutesChevrolet Grand PrixReport
2024July 14 Nick Boulle
Tom Dillmann
Inter Europol by PR1/Mathiasen MotorsportsOreca 07 Gibson GK428 4.2 L V82 hours, 40 minutesChevrolet Grand PrixReport
[17] [18] [19] [20]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park | Racetrack, Weddings & Events.
  2. Web site: Makse. Brian. Tracing the colorful, surprising history of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. September 17, 2021. IMSA.com.
  3. News: March 24, 1962. Grand Prix - Canada's bid for big-time auto racing. Maclean’s Magazine. September 17, 2021. September 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917155506/https://archive.macleans.ca/article/1962/03/24/grand-prix-canadas-bid-for-big-time-auto-racing. dead.
  4. Web site: Henry. Alan. June 6, 2014. McLaren at Mosport: fast and furious. September 17, 2021. McLaren.com.
  5. Web site: Fagnan. René. August 27, 2016. Jack Brabham won the first Canadian GP on this day in 1967. September 17, 2021. Motorsport.com.
  6. News: June 4, 1975. Labatt's Blue races set for weekend. Whitby Free Press. September 17, 2021.
  7. Book: Brockington, Robert J.. Mosport 1961-2001: Four Decades of Racing. Mosport International Raceway. 2001. Aykroyd. Steve. 52 & 53. Jones. Neal.
  8. Web site: Donnelly. Jim. June 2011. Invading the North - IMSA's GTs charge into Mosport. Wild, eh?. September 17, 2021. Hemmings Sports and Exotics.
  9. Web site: 1999 Mosport Park ALMS. September 18, 2021. Motorsport Magazine.
  10. News: McDonald. Norris. August 23, 2008. Italy's Dindo Capello breaks record at Mosport. The Toronto Star. September 27, 2021.
  11. Web site: Lenssen. Jordan. July 18, 2013. American Le Mans Series at Mosport. September 27, 2021. PRN Motorsport Magazine. September 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210918162838/https://prnmag.com/features/871-american-le-mans-series-at-mosport. dead.
  12. Web site: Lenssen. Jordan. July 18, 2013. American Le Mans Series at Mosport. September 17, 2021. PRN Motorsport Magazine. September 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210918162838/https://prnmag.com/features/871-american-le-mans-series-at-mosport. dead.
  13. News: Malloy. Gerry. September 22, 2013. 2014 United SportsCar Championship coming to Canada. Autofile.ca. September 18, 2021.
  14. News: Pruett. Marshall. September 22, 2013. The 2014 United SportsCar Championship schedule is about compromises. Road and Track. September 18, 2021.
  15. News: May 15, 2020. CTMP Announces Cancellation Of IMSA Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix. RaceCanada.ca. September 18, 2021.
  16. News: Malsher-Lopez. David. Apr 7, 2021. Watkins Glen gains extra IMSA race, Canadian round canceled. Motorsport.com. September 18, 2021.
  17. Web site: Mosport International Raceway . Ultimate Racing History. 27 March 2013.
  18. Web site: Mosport - List of Races . Racing Sports Cars . 27 March 2013.
  19. Web site: Official Race Results. International Motor Sports Association. https://web.archive.org/web/20181209044750/http://results.imsa.com/Results/18_2018/13_Canadian%20Tire%20Motorsport%20Park/01_IMSA%20WeatherTech%20SportsCar%20Championship/201807081405_Race/03_Results_Race_Official.PDF. 2018-12-09. 2018-09-24.
  20. Web site: State of the Sport Sets Table for Momentous 2022 IMSA Season. 6 August 2021. imsa.com. International Motor Sports Association, LLC. 16 August 2021.