Circuit Mont-Tremblant is a 4.218-kilometre (2.621-mile) road racing circuit located in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, approximately 130 kilometres (81 miles) north of Montreal, Canada. It is the second-oldest racing circuit in the country. Originally known as Circuit Mont-Tremblant–St-Jovite, the venue was renamed in the 1970s. Situated near the Mont-Tremblant ski resort, the circuit features a twisting fifteen-corner layout that follows the natural topography and elevation changes of the surrounding terrain.
History
The concept for Circuit Mont-Tremblant originated with local business owners and hoteliers seeking to extend tourism beyond the winter ski season. Construction was completed in two phases. The original 2.5-kilometre (1.56-mile) layout opened in 1964, and the circuit was extended the following year to 4.265 kilometres (2.65 miles).
The 1960s – 1970s
Circuit Mont-Tremblant hosted its inaugural race on 3 August 1964 on the original twelve-corner layout. By September of that year, construction of the bridge, pit stalls, and media and officials’ facilities had been completed, enabling the circuit to host sports car and prototype events.
The expanded circuit debuted in September 1965 with the Player’s Quebec Sports Car Race. On 11 September 1966, the circuit hosted its first Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am) race. In 1967 and 1968, it hosted consecutive USAC Indy Car twin 100-mile double-header events.
The circuit hosted the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix on two occasions, in 1968 and 1970. The 1970 event was notable for marking the Formula One debut of Tyrrell Racing as a constructor.
Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, Circuit Mont-Tremblant was a regular venue for major North American racing series, including Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, and Formula Atlantic.
Notable drivers who competed at Circuit Mont-Tremblant during this period include Mario Andretti, Chris Amon, Alan Jones, A. J. Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Parnelli Jones, Jacky Ickx, Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Mark Donohue, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske, Peter Revson, Jochen Rindt, Jackie Stewart, John Surtees, Al and Bobby Unser, and Gilles Villeneuve.
The 1980s – 1990s
During the 1980s and 1990s, Circuit Mont-Tremblant regularly hosted prominent Canadian national racing series, including the Rothmans Porsche (Turbo) Cup, Players GM Challenge Series, Honda-Michelin Series, Export A Formula 2000, and the Canadian Formula 1600 Championship. These series played a significant role in the development of Canadian racing talent, including Paul Tracy, Scott Goodyear, Ron Fellows, Greg Moore, Richard Spenard, Patrick Carpentier, and Alex Tagliani.
The Jim Russell Racing School
Circuit Mont-Tremblant is home to the Jim Russell Racing Driver School, established in 1969. The school has produced a number of internationally successful drivers, including Gilles Villeneuve, Jacques Villeneuve, Lance Stroll, and Nicholas Latifi.
A CIK-FIA–rated karting facility was added in 2010 to support driver development programs and has hosted Canadian national karting events.
The 2000s – present
In the 2000s, new ownership initiatives focused on upgrading the facility to improved FIA standards while preserving the circuit’s original character. Improvements included track resurfacing and widening, pit lane expansion, and increased run-off areas. These upgrades enabled the return of major racing categories, including sports car racing, open-wheel events, superbike racing, and historic motorsport.
The circuit continues to be used extensively for club racing, corporate events, manufacturer programs, and vehicle launches. On 21 July 2022, the Circuit Mont-Tremblant complex was acquired by 11938053 Canada Inc., a company owned by Montreal businessman Gad Bitton of the Holand Automotive Group.
Events
- Former
- Atlantic Championship (1975–1976, 2007–2008)
- Can-Am
- Mont-Tremblant Can-Am (1966, 1969–1971, 1977–1978)
- Canadian Superbike Championship (2003–2004, 2006–2007, 2012–2013)
- Canadian Touring Car Championship (2012–2013)
- Champ Car World Series
- Formula One
- Canadian Grand Prix (1968, 1970)
- Grand-Am Cup (1998, 2002–2004)
- IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge Canada (2012, 2019)
- Rolex Sports Car Series
- 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant (2002–2005)
- SCCA Continental Championship (1967, 1969–1970)
- Trans-Am Series
- Trois Heures du Circuit (1968–1971, 1977–1978)
- USAC Championship Car
- Saint-Jovite 200 (1967–1968)
- United States Road Racing Championship (1968)
Former series and major race winners
| Year | Race | Driver | Constructor | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Player’s Canadian Grand Prix | McLaren–Ford | Report | |
| 1970 | Ferrari | Report |
| Year | Race | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Mont-Tremblant Champ Car Grand Prix | Minardi Team USA | Panoz DP01 | Cosworth | Report |
| Year | Race | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Labatt Indy | Dean Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford | |
| 1968 | Saint-Jovite 200 | Andretti Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford |
| Year | Date | Race | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | Sept 11 | Player’s 200 | ||
| 1969 | June 15 | Labatt’s 50 | ||
| 1970 | June 28 | Mont-Tremblant 50 | ||
| 1971 | June 27 | Mont-Tremblant 50 | ||
| 1977 | June 12 | |||
| 1978 | June 25 |
| Year | Date | Race | Drivers | Car | Distance/Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | July 21 | Les Trois Heures du Circuit | Chevrolet Camaro | 3 Hours / 96 Laps 254.4 mi (409.4 km) |
[1] | |
| 1969 | Aug 3 | Les Trois Heures du Circuit | Chevrolet Camaro | 3 Hours / 97 Laps 257 mi (414 km) |
[2] | |
| 1970 | Aug 2 | Le Circuit Trans-Am | AMC Javelin | 70 Laps 185.5 mi (298.5 km) |
[3] | |
| 1970 | Aug 2 | Le Circuit Trans-Am | AMC Javelin | 70 Laps 185.5 mi (298.5 km) |
[3] | |
| 1971 | Aug 1 | Player’s Quebec Trans-Am | AMC Javelin | 70 Laps 185.5 mi (298.5 km) |
[4] | |
| 1977 | Sept 11 | Molson Trans-Am | Porsche 934 | 38 Laps 100.7 mi (162.1 km) |
[5] | |
| 1978 | June 25 | Molson Trans-Am | Porsche 935 | 38 Laps 100.7 mi (162.1 km) |
[6] |
| Year | Date | Race | Over 2.0 Winning Driver | Over 2.0 Winning Team | Under 2.0 Winning Driver | Under 2.0 Winning Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | June 2 | Championnat Nord-Americain | #6 Roger Penske Racing | #37 Altona Motors | [7] |
| Year | Date | Race | Driver | Chassis | Engine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | Sept 17 | St Jovite Grand Prix | Brabham BT21 | Ford | [8] | |
| 1969 | Sept 7 | Le Circuit Continental | Surtees TS5 | Chevrolet | [9] | |
| 1970 | Aug 1 | Le Circuit Continental | Lotus 70 | Ford | [10] |
| Year | Date | Driver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | July 6 | [11] | |
| 1976 | July 11 | [12] | |
| 2007 | July 1 | [13] | |
| 2008 | June 29 | [14] |
| Year | Date | Race | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Sept 15 | 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant | Dallara LMP | Judd | [15] | ||
| 2003 | Sept 21 | Fabcar FDSC/03 | Porsche | [16] | |||
| 2004 | May 23 | Riley MkXI | Lexus | [17] | |||
| 2005 | May 21 | Crawford DP03 | Pontiac | [18] |
| Year | Date | Driver | Motorcycle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | August 17 | Kawasaki ZX-7RR | [20] | |
| 2004 | August 22 | Honda CBR1000RR | [21] | |
| 2006 | June 4 | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | [22] | |
| 2007 | June 3 | Kawasaki ZX-10RR | [23] | |
| 2012 | August 12 | BMW S1000RR | [24] | |
| 2013 | August 25 | BMW S1000RR | [25] |
Lap records
As of September 2019, the fastest official race lap records at Circuit Mont-Tremblant (St. Jovite) are listed as:
See also
- List of auto racing tracks in Canada
- Other Montreal area race tracks
Notes
References
- ^ “1968 Trans-Am Box Scores” (PDF). SCCA Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
- ^ “1969 Trans-Am Box Scores” (PDF). SCCA Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2013-05-02.
- ^ a b “1970 Trans-Am Box Scores” (PDF). SCCA Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ^ “1971 Trans-Am Box Scores” (PDF). SCCA Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-06-03. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ^ “1977 Trans-Am Box Scores” (PDF). SCCA Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ^ “1978 Trans-Am Box Scores” (PDF). SCCA Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-24. Retrieved 2013-05-04.
- ^ “SCCA US Road Racing Championship race”. ultimateracinghistory.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “St Jovite Grand Prix”. oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “Le Circuit Continental”. oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “Le Circuit Continental”. oldracingcars.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “1975 CASC Player’s Challenge Series”. champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “1976 CASC Player’s Challenge Series”. champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “2007 Cooper Tires Presents the Champ Car Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda”. champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “2008 Cooper Tires Presents the Atlantic Championship Powered by Mazda”. champcarstats.com. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “6 h Mont Tremblant”. World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “6 h Mont Tremblant”. World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “6 h Mont Tremblant”. World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “6 h Mont Tremblant”. World Sports Racing Prototypes. Archived from the original on 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2013-05-05.
- ^ “Circuit Mont-Tremblant”. Ultimate Racing History. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
- ^ “CSBK – August 17, 2003 – Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Superbike Race Results”. csbk.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ “CSBK – August 22, 2004 – Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Superbike Race Results”. csbk.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ “CSBK – June 4, 2006 – Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Superbike Race Results”. csbk.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ “CSBK – June 3, 2007 – Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Superbike Race Results”. csbk.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ “CSBK – 2012 Mopar Pro Superbike Final Point Standings”. csbk.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ “CSBK – 2013, RD6, Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Pro Superbike Race Results”. csbk.ca. Retrieved 2023-05-16.
- ^ a b c d “Mont-Tremblant – Racing Circuits”. RacingCircuits.info. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ “2007 Formula Atlantic Mont Tremblant”. 1 July 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
- ^ a b “Mont-Tremblant 6 Hours 2004”. 23 May 2004. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ a b c “Mont-Tremblant 6 Hours 2003”. 21 September 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “2019 The Fall Classic – Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama – Race 2 Official Results (45 Minutes)” (PDF). International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). 1 October 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ “Szoke Wraps Up Record Ninth Canadian Superbike Championship With Race Victory At Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant”. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ “June 3, 2007 – Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant – Pro 600 Sport Bike Race Results”. 3 June 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ “Classique d’été #2 – Points obtenus” (PDF). 25 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “2013 Mont Tremblant Summer Classic – Round 7 Race (30 min)”. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “July 19, 2008 – Mosport International Raceway – Superbike Race 1 Results”. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ “July 19, 2008 – Mosport International Raceway – Pro 600 Sport Bike Race 1 Results”. 19 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
- ^ a b c d e “Mont-Tremblant 6 Hours 2002”. 15 September 2002. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ “Can-Am Mont-Tremblant 1978”. 25 June 1978. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ “Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Players Quebec, July 11 Juillet 1976”. 11 July 1976. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
- ^ “1970 SCCA Formula 5000 Le Circuit Continental”. 1 August 1970. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
- ^ “Trans-Am Mont-Tremblant 1977”. 11 September 1977. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ “Labatt 50 Mont-Tremblant 1966”. 29 May 1966. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ “Player’s Mont-Tremblant 1965”. 19 September 1965. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “Mont-Tremblant 3 Hours 1968”. 21 July 1968. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ “St. Jean 67, U.S.A.M. Mont-Tremblant 1967”. 11 June 1967. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
- ^ “Labatt 50 Mont-Tremblant 1965”. 4 July 1965. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “Mont-Tremblant [SP] 1964”. 13 September 1964. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “Regional Mont-Tremblant [Invitational] 1964”. 18 October 1964. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “Regional Mont-Tremblant [Trophy] 1964”. 18 October 1964. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ “Regional Mont-Tremblant [Main] 1964”. 23 August 1964. Retrieved 22 May 2022.