Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park stands as Canada's oldest permanent road racing circuit. Many racing enthusiasts still refer to this facility by its historic name, "Mosport." The venue sits north of Bowmanville in Clarington, Ontario, approximately 75 kilometers east of Toronto. The British Empire Motor Club conceived the circuit in 1958, and it opened its doors in June 1961. The name "Mosport" combines the words "Motor" and "Sport" into a single term.

Grand Prix Circuit Technical Details

The Grand Prix Circuit forms the centerpiece of the facility. This track measures 3.957 kilometers in length and features 10 corners. Cars travel clockwise around the circuit. The track spans 12.8 meters in width following a 2001 repaving project that met FIA specifications. Engineers preserved the original racing lines during this update. The circuit exhibits dramatic elevation changes with approximately 52 meters of vertical variation. These elevation shifts create blind crests and off-camber entries that challenge drivers at every turn.

Famous Circuit Features

Moss Corner stands as the most recognized section of the track. This complex consists of turns 5a and 5b. Sir Stirling Moss suggested the redesign of what was originally planned as a single-radius corner. The result is a two-part sequence with a technical downhill entry followed by a tight exit. The Andretti Straightaway provides a long, fast section where cars reach high speeds before drivers must brake hard for Turn 8. The circuit design uses the natural rolling hills of the Ontario countryside. This approach creates a challenging and unforgiving driver's circuit.

Racing History and Major Events

The first major race took place on June 25, 1961. Stirling Moss won this inaugural Player's 200 race. Mosport hosted the Canadian Grand Prix Formula One event from 1961 to 1967, in 1969, and continuously from 1972 until 1977. The race then moved to Montreal. Sixteen Formula One World Champions have competed at this circuit, including Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart, Mario Andretti, and Niki Lauda. The Can-Am Challenge Series first visited in 1966 and returned every year except 1968 during the series' run.

The IMSA SportsCar Championship has held regular events at the facility since 1999. The circuit hosts the NASCAR Canada Series Clarington 200 and has previously welcomed the NASCAR Truck Series. Other major series that have raced here include USAC IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship, Formula 5000, Trans-Am Series, and Grand Prix motorcycle racing. Racing legends such as Gilles Villeneuve, Bruce McLaren, and Richard Petty have all competed at this venue.

Additional Facilities

The Driver Development Centre opened in 2000 and was expanded in 2013. This training facility offers two configurations: a 2.2-kilometer intermediate course and a 2.9-kilometer advanced course. The facility includes a skid pad and pit lane. The Mosport Karting Centre operates a 1.5-kilometer kart track. A half-mile paved oval called Mosport Speedway operated from 1989 until July 2013, when it closed to allow the Driver Development Centre expansion.

Modern Operations

Canadian Motorsports Ventures Ltd. purchased the facility in June 2011. The ownership group includes Carlo Fidani and Canadian road racing driver Ron Fellows. A partnership with Canadian Tire in February 2012 led to the current name. The venue hosts racing events, corporate functions, driver training, testing, product demonstrations, music festivals like Boots & Hearts, and private events. The Grand Prix circuit layout has remained mostly unchanged since 1961, despite safety updates and track resurfacing projects.