Circuits

Mont-Tremblant

Opened in September 1964 in the scenic foothills of the Laurentian mountains near St. Jovite in Quebec province, the Mont-Tremblant circuit was lengthened soon after it opened to reach its full 2.65 mile length. In 1966 it played host to the first ever CanAm race, which was won by the Lola of John Surtees. In 1967 and 1968 Indycars raced at the track with all four races held there being won by Mario Andretti.In 1968 the circuit hosted the Canadian Grand Prix for the first time and, after Chris Amon had dominated the race but retired with mechanical failure, Denny Hulme won by a lap from his team boss Bruce McLaren.The Canadian Grand Prix returned in 1970 just a few weeks after the death of Jochen Rindt at Monza. The new climate of safety meant that the Ste Jovite circuit was heavily criticized and the Formula 1 circus did not return.The track continued to host Formula 5000 and CanAm races well into the 1970s but there were series of big accidents including a huge crash involving Brian Redman in a Lola CanAm car in 1977 which left the British driver with very serious injuries.The circuit had a famous Jim Russell Racing School which was attended by both Gilles Villeneuve, his brother Jacques and, eventually, his son Jacques as well. In 1999 the circuit was sold to Montreal businessman Lawrence Stroll, a Formula 1 sponsor through his Tommy Hilfiger clothing company. The circuit was rebuilt under the guidance of circuit designer Alan Wilson (husband of racer Desire Wilson) to modern FIA standards.