TORONTO (June 7, 2017) – Track construction of the 2.89 km (1.786 miles), 11-turn temporary street circuit has begun inside the Exhibition Place grounds for next month’s Honda Indy Toronto, July 14-16. The final racing layout will once again feature four left and seven right turns running clockwise direction.
Led by Jim Tario, Director of Track Operations, who has built the Toronto circuit for 30 years, approximately 200 expert crew members will assist in completing the project with much of the work happening at night. Construction will be near completion with Lake Shore Blvd. West closing at 12 midnight on Wednesday, July 12 for the race weekend.
“Each year the crew gets more efficient with the construction and tear down process. The logistics of night construction comes at a greater cost to us, but the time savings is significant in completing the track build,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of Honda Indy Toronto. “We transform the streets into a world-class race track while showcasing the beauty of our city to a worldwide TV audience.”
Concrete barrier block placement has begun along Manitoba and Ontario Drives. In total over 2,050 blocks made using more than 10 million pounds of concrete will be positioned. Fencing spanning 14,000 feet made from 410,000 pounds of steel will be erected, and over 1,600 feet of tire wall barriers will line the course.
Track tear down will begin immediately upon conclusion of racing activity on Sunday, July 16. Crews also work at night on this process to avoid daytime traffic.
Friday, July 14th is Fan Friday at the Honda Indy Toronto; gates are open to race fans of all ages with a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada, and is made possible through the generous support of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association (OHDA). Kids 12 and under receive free general admission throughout the weekend when accompanied by a ticketed adult. For complete ticket pricing and event information, visit hondaindy.com or call 877-725-8849.
ABOUT THE HONDA INDY TORONTO
Honda Indy Toronto takes place on the historic grounds of Exhibition Place in a unique lakefront and downtown setting. As Ontario's largest annual sporting event, the event has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world’s fastest race car drivers. Since 1986, the three-day event has entertained millions of fans thanks to world-class entertainment and exhilarating performances from drivers including Scott Dixon, Marco Andretti and Helio Castroneves, as well as Canadian legends Paul Tracy, Greg Moore and James Hinchcliffe. The event is owned and operated by Green Savoree Racing Promotions, which also promotes The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio (July 28-30, 2017) and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (March 9-11, 2018).
For more information, visit hondaindy.com, facebook.com/HondaIndyToronto or follow the event via Twitter @HondaIndy and Instagram instagram.com/hondaindy.
Media Inquiries:
Steve Bidlack, Manager Marketing and Communications
419-884-4000 Ext. 4623 (office) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
