F1 exhibition coming to Toronto
Fans of Formula One racing will be able to experience every aspect of the sport, aside from the racing itself, in a 13,000-square-foot exhibition starting May 3 at the Lighthouse Artspace in Toronto.
This presentation is co-ordinated by the official F1 sanctioning body and has already made stops this year in Madrid and Vienna. The show, at 1 Yonge St., is being presented by TSN, which also airs the Canadian Grand Prix June 9 on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal.
Which raises a question: why not hold the exhibition in Montreal at race time for a fully rounded trip to the event?
“Montreal is a great home for the Canadian Grand Prix,” stated Formula F1 Exhibition producer Jonathan Linden, “but Toronto is an equally compelling destination for F1 enthusiasts. As Canadian producers, we are proud to bring the North American debut to Toronto.”
The Canadian GP was initially held in 1967 at Mosport Park (now Canadian Tire Motorsport Park) outside of Bowmanville. In 1968 and 1970, the race moved to MontTremblant, Que., and then was run at Mosport exclusively from 1971 to 1977. Since 1978, Montreal has been its home at the Circuit Ile NotreDame and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, the latter named in honour of the late Canadian racer who won the first Montreal GP in 1978 in his Ferrari.
The upcoming Toronto show was five years in the making, according to the exhibitors, and nine current F1 teams are taking part. It also includes recorded interviews with 80 personalities involved in the racing. Linden added there will be content and history unique to the Canadian races. The exhibition is comprised of six sections or themes about the sport, which started in 1950.
Canada is the only scheduled stop for this tour to date, although Lindon said information on future stops, including in the U.S., is forthcoming.
“We are actively talking to several different regions of the world,” he said. “The wonderful thing about F1 is that it is a truly global brand that attracts interest from all regions of the world.”
Part of the display includes the Haas VF-20 race car driven by Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean during the 2020 season.
Tickets are now on sale and start at $42 for adults ($57 on weekends), with reduced rates for children and seniors. Visit f1exhibition.com/toronto/ for packages and details.
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