Canadian GP continues open house tradition

Octane Racing Group, promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix, is pleased to announce the return of 'Open House Day' at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Thursday, June 10 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Following a tradition dear to Montrealers, the organizers will allow the general public to stroll down pit lane in front of the World Championship team garages. The wide-open team garage doors will enable everyone to see what is going on inside the F1 teams weekend workplace where they are busy readying the open wheel Formula 1 cars prior to their first laps on track the next day. Armed with their cameras, fans will be able to immortalize their presence in proximity to the most spectacular racecars in the world.

"We are very satisfied of the co-operation that the FIA, FOM, and the F1 teams have demonstrated this year as we were staging this fan favorite," explained François Dumontier, President of the Canadian Grand Prix and Octane Racing Group, and promoter of the event. "The 'Open House Day' is of course a popular tradition at the Canadian Grand Prix, but I think that visitors will especially appreciate this year's experience. These past few months, all those involved in F1 expressed their enthusiasm on the return of Formula 1 to Montreal. The 'Open House Day' will be their first contact in a couple of years with their Canadian followers and I am really convinced that they will all be ready for this reunion."

Those who attended previous "Open House Day" gathering at the Canadian Grand Prix have always been especially impressed by the availability of team members who are always willing to answer their questions. Fans have often been surprised by unexpected appearances from drivers.

Supporting events racecars and a Ferrari driven by Gilles Villeneuve
Besides the visit down pit lane in front of the F1 garages, the public will also be able to see the supporting events racecars displayed by teams running at the Grand Prix – the beautiful and powerful Ferraris 430, the Quebec crowd favorite open-wheel Formula 1600 and the Historic Grand Prix cars. These are authentic F1 cars that ran from the late sixties through the mid-eighties. For a few dollars, those who wish to support the Gilles Villeneuve Museum can have their picture taken by one of the Ferraris driven in Montréal by the late Gilles Villeneuve.

Those who intend to be part of the 'Open House Day' celebrations at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve must use the Montreal subway system (Métro) to reach the Jean-Drapeau station located on Ile Sainte-Hélène. The public will then be directed to the Circuit via the Cosmos Bridge. Once on Island Notre-Dame, visitors will be transported to the pit lane by shuttle buses. Fans will be asked to leave the pit area at noon the latest to return to their point of origin, using the same shuttle buses. Tickets are not required this year to attend the event.

The 2010 official Canadian Grand Prix program will be available on Thursday, June 10 for those attending the 'Open House Day'. For $10, the official program is the ideal collector's item for every Formula 1 fan. It contains a full description of every team and driver entered in the 2010 World Championship, an exquisite spotter's guide and includes many fully illustrated feature stories on Formula 1. A signature Canadian Grand Prix clothing line and other memorabilia will also be on sales that day.

There are still grandstand and general admission tickets available for those wishing to attend the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix. Fans can reach the Canadian Grand Prix box office at 514 350-0000, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. They can also visit www.circuitgillesvilleneuve.ca, at any time to order online. Still also available are corporate packages for both small and large companies and other groups who wish to attend the 2010 Canadian Grand Prix in a luxury trackside suite. To make a reservation, they must contact Julie Rioux-Paquette or Marie-Claude Boucher at 514 350-4731.