Canadian Grand Prix event promoter Octane Racing Group has confirmed the return of the popular "Open House Day" at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve for Thursday, June 9, from 9 am to noon. Fans will be able to access the track by the Montreal subway system exiting at Métro Station Jean-Drapeau. They will be allowed to stroll down the pit lane in front of the Formula 1 World Championship team garages. According to tradition, the teams will open their garage doors to enable everyone to watch the crews preparing the cars for the upcoming race that weekend.
"Last year, during the return of the Grand Prix du Canada Open House Day, the Formula 1 teams, drivers and crews were very cooperative with visitors," said François Dumontier, president of Grand Prix du Canada and of Octane Racing Group. "That was our first contact with fans following a 24-month absence. The events that followed, notably the great success of the Grand Evening Gala, and the impressive crowd that jammed the stands for the three days of the grand prix, really pleased the teams. I am convinced they remember it all and that they will be quite generous with the fans in 2011."
Formula 1 team personnel are generally happy to answer questions from fans during the Open House. Additionally, several teams usually work on pit stop simulations on Thursday morning.
Aside from the pit lane stroll in front of the F1 team garages, the general public will also be able to see support racecars including the Ferrari Challenge, GT3 Porsche Cup, Formula 1600 and the historic grand prix cars. Race officials, as well as drivers from these championship series, will also be on hand Thursday to answer questions from visitors.