MosportInternational Raceway

Mosport Park, now known as Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, is a flowing circuit cut into the rolling hills of Bowmanville, Ontario, about an hour east of Toronto. Built in 1961 by enthusiastic Canadian club racers, it hosted the Canadian Grand Prix eight times between 1967 and 1977 (alternating with Mont-Tremblant), producing memorable races on a layout that combined fast esses, blind crests, and a daunting downhill plunge. Mosport's combination of speed, elevation change, and limited run-off made it both spectacular and increasingly dangerous, and the Canadian Grand Prix moved to a safer purpose-built venue in Montreal in 1978. The track remains active for sports car racing and is beloved by drivers who appreciate its old-school commitment.

Origins

Mosport stands for "Motor Sport," and the circuit was built by the British Empire Motor Club after they outgrew their previous venue. Construction took place from 1959 to 1961 on land in Durham Region, with Canadian sports car enthusiasts contributing labor and money. The 3.957 km circuit opened in 1961 and was immediately recognized as one of North America's most challenging tracks. The first Canadian Grand Prix in 1967 — a centennial-year event — was held at Mosport, won by Jack Brabham. The Grand Prix alternated with Mont-Tremblant in subsequent years before settling at Mosport from 1971.

Layout

The lap starts with a sprint to Turn 1, a fast right-hander leading onto the back portion. Turn 2 is a downhill kink, leading to Moss Corner — a slow right-hander named for Stirling Moss. The cars then climb to Turn 5A, a fast right-hander that leads onto a long straight ending at Turn 8, the daunting Corner 8 — a downhill, off-camber, decreasing-radius right-hander where many drivers have ended their day in the wall. The final sequence drops through Turn 9 and 10 back to the start. Elevation change exceeds 30 meters per lap, with Turn 8 being particularly challenging because the entry and apex are blind from the approach.

Legendary Moments

1967 saw the first Canadian Grand Prix as a championship round, won by Brabham in changing weather conditions. Jackie Stewart triumphed in 1971 and 1972 in the Tyrrell, mastering the circuit's technical challenges. The 1973 race was wet and chaotic — Peter Revson won in the McLaren after several lead changes, but the race included multiple crashes and the introduction of the safety car concept (which immediately caused confusion and was used briefly for the only time at Mosport, with Howden Ganley spinning into Jody Scheckter while the field was bunched). 1976 was Niki Lauda's return to F1 after his Nürburgring crash — he finished eighth, his first championship points after the accident. Jody Scheckter won the 1977 race for Wolf, a popular victory for the Canadian-based team. James Hunt scored multiple Mosport victories en route to the 1976 title fight.

Quirks & Curiosities

The circuit was originally lined with hay bales, replaced by Armco only in the late 1960s. Spectators often parked their cars on the hillsides overlooking the circuit, particularly at the famous Turn 2 and Corner 8 vantage points — a Mosport tradition that continues at non-F1 events. The 1973 safety car deployment is officially considered the first in F1 history, though it was not standard procedure for many years afterward. The circuit was sold to a Canadian Tire-affiliated company in 2011 and renamed Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, but locals still call it Mosport. The on-site grocery is genuinely useful — drivers often stay overnight and do their own cooking.

Modern Era

Mosport has not hosted a Formula 1 race since 1977. After Gilles Villeneuve's emergence as a Ferrari driver, the Canadian GP moved to the new Île Notre-Dame circuit in Montreal in 1978, where it has remained. Mosport hosts the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA), Canadian Touring Car Championship, NASCAR Pinty's Series, and various club events. The circuit retains its original layout with safety upgrades — Corner 8 now has more run-off than in the F1 era, but remains one of North America's great corners. F1 drivers occasionally test at Mosport when in Toronto for promotional events, and the circuit's old-school flow continues to win admirers from the modern generation.