Montreal has achieved a sell-out crowd for its first Formula 1 race in two years, with the organisers of the Canadian Grand Prix reporting that they closed sales for 2010 this afternoon.
Tickets for the 2011 race have now gone on sale, with this year's prices held for all bookings up to the end of July. Event promoter Francois Dumontier of Octane Racing Group said Montreal's enthusiasm for F1 was evident as soon as the race's return to the calendar was secured.
"We are of course very pleased with the public response," said Dumontier. "Local fans, obviously proud of their grand prix, were quick to respond when we announced ticket sales last December, and we soon realized that they were not going to stay away from something they appreciate.
"Then, over the course of the following months, we received huge fan response from abroad, which pleasantly surprised us. Our ticket sales in Europe were exceptional, and this is a testimony to the appeal of our event in traditional Formula 1 markets.
"There are thousands of connoisseurs who have for years watched the Canadian Grand Prix broadcast from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and were now ready to cross the ocean to witness a Formula 1 Grand Prix, Montreal style. We are going to welcome them, as we do with all other fans, with warmth and enthusiasm. And I invite Montrealers to do the same."