# Circuit Mont-Tremblant

Circuit Mont-Tremblant is a 4.218 km (2.621 mi) race circuit located approximately 130 km (81 mi) north of Montreal, Quebec, in the city of Mont-Tremblant, Canada. It is the second-oldest existing race track in Canada, and was originally known as Circuit Mont-Tremblant-St-Jovite until it was renamed in the 1970s. Set in the shadow of the Mont-Tremblant ski hill, the twisting fifteen-corner track uses the natural topography and elevation of the land.

## History

The idea was conceived by local business and hoteliers to boost tourism during the slower spring and summer periods to the levels they enjoyed during winter’s peak ski season.
Legendary race driver Bruce McLaren is credited as a contributor to the design of the track which was completed in two sections; the original 2.510 km (1.560 mi) circuit was opened in 1964 and was extended to 4.265 km (2.650 mi) the following year.

### The 1960s – 1970s

The first race was held August 3, 1964 on the original twelve-turn 2.510 km (1.560 mi) circuit and won by Ludwig Heimrath driving a Cooper-Ford. The completion of the bridge, media/officials complex and the pit stalls were ready just prior to the next race that September featuring sports cars and prototypes. Pedro Rodríguez driving Luigi Chinetti’s (N.A.R.T.) Ferrari 330 P would go on to win that race.
The Player’s Quebec Sports Car race in September 1965 would be the first event on the newly-expanded 4.265 km (2.650 mi) track and was won by John Surtees driving a Lola T-70.
On September 11, 1966 the track debuted the inaugural Canadian-American (Can-Am) Challenge Cup Series Race. John Surtees would win this event, followed by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon.
The following summer, on 6 August 1967, Mario Andretti would win both races of the twin 100-mile double header U.S.A.C. Indy Car event ahead of A.J. Foyt. A year later, Andretti would the repeat the same achievement, this time beating out Bobby Unser.
Circuit Mont-Tremblant hosted the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix on two occasions, in 1968 and 1970. Jochen Rindt started the 1968 race from pole position, but Denny Hulme went on to win. The second race marked the debut of the Tyrrell Racing team as a constructor. Jackie Stewart set the pole time and a new track record in the new Tyrrell 001. The Ferraris of Jacky Ickx and Clay Regazzoni would finish 1st and 2nd ahead of Chris Amon in 3rd.
Throughout the late 1960’s and 70’s many of North America’s other top tier race championships such as Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000 and Formula Atlantic made their championship stops to the track. Many now famous drivers such as Denny Hulme, Bruce McLaren, Dan Gurney, Jackie Stewart, Bobby Rahal, Chris Amon, Mark Donohue, Roger Penske, Parnelli Jones, Al and Bobby Unser, Gordon Johncock, Alan Jones, Peter Revson, John Cannon, Elliot Forbes-Robinson, George Follmer and Gilles Villeneuve all competed at Circuit Mont-Tremblant during these years.

### The 1980s – 1990s

Strong National Series such as the Rothmans Porsche (Turbo) Cup, the Players GM Challenge Series, the Honda-Michelin Series, Export A Formula 2000 and the Canadian Formula 1600 series would be predominant throughout the mid-1980s and 1990s, giving rise to some of Canada's most prominent and recognized racing drivers, including Paul Tracy, Scott Goodyear, Ron Fellows, Greg Moore, Claude Bourbonnais, Richard Spenard, Patrick Carpentier and Alex Tagliani.

### The Jim Russell Racing School

The circuit is also home to the well-known Jim Russell Racing Driver School (est. 1969) which is notable for graduating Gilles Villeneuve, Jacques Villeneuve, and more recently, F1 drivers Lance Stroll and Nicholas Latifi.
A CIK-FIA rated karting facility was added in 2010 to complement the Jim Russell Racing School's development of young drivers, and has played host to the Canadian nationals.

### The 2000s – present

New ownership has concentrated on updating the facility to improved FIA standards by repaving and widening the track, expanding the pit lane, and creating greater run-off areas, while attempting to preserve the character of the original layout. These updates have permitted the return of racing series like Grand Am (formerly Can-Am) and Indy car along with Superbikes and Historic Racing. The historic reputation of the race track and Mont-Tremblant’s appeal as a tourist destination keeps the track in constant demand amongst driving clubs, corporate events and major automotive manufacturers for car launches and driving programs such as Ferrari’s Corso Pilota, Lamborghini, Porsche, Audi, McLaren, Volvo, and BMW among others. On July 21, 2022 the track complex was purchased by 11938053 Canada Inc., a company owned by Montreal businessman Gad Bitton of Holand Automotive Group.

## Events
### Current

* May: VARAC Vintage Racing Spring Classic
* July: VARAC Vintage Racing Summer Classic
* September: VARAC Vintage Racing Fall Classic, Nissan Sentra Cup

### 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
** Mont-Tremblant Champ Car Grand Prix (2007)
* 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
### FIA Formula One World Championship

| Year | Race | Driver | Constructor | Report |
| 1968 | Player's Canadian Grand Prix | Denny Hulme | McLaren-Ford | Report |
| 1970 | Player's Canadian Grand Prix | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari | Report |

### Champ Car World Series

| Year | Race | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine | Report |
| 2007 | Mont-Tremblant Champ Car Grand Prix | Robert Doornbos | Minardi Team USA | Panoz DP01 | Cosworth | Report |

### USAC Championship Car (IndyCar)

| Year | Race | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine |
| 1967 | Labatt Indy | Mario Andretti | Dean Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford |
| 1968 | Saint-Jovite 200 | Mario Andretti | Andretti Racing Enterprises | Brawner Hawk | Ford |

### SCCA Can-Am Series

| Year | Date | Race | Driver | Team |
| 1966 | Sept 11 | Player's 200 | John Surtees | #3 Team Surtees |
| 1969 | June 15 | Labatt's 50 | Denny Hulme | #5 McLaren Cars |
| 1970 | June 28 | Mont-Tremblant 50 | Dan Gurney | #48 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing |
| 1971 | June 27 | Mont-Tremblant 50 | Jackie Stewart | #1 Carl Haas Racing |
| 1977 | June 12 | | Tom Klausler | Schkee Cars |
| 1978 | June 25 | | George Follmer | U.S. Racing |

### SCCA Trans-Am Series

| Year | Date | Race | Drivers | Car | Distance/Duration |
| 1968 | July 21 | Les Trois Heures du Circuit | Mark Donohue | Chevrolet Camaro | 3 Hours / 96 Laps 254.4 mi (409.4 km) |
| 1969 | Aug 3 | Les Trois Heures du Circuit | Mark Donohue | Chevrolet Camaro | 3 Hours / 97 Laps 257 mi (414 km) |
| 1970 | Aug 2 | Le Circuit Trans-Am | Mark Donohue | AMC Javelin | 70 Laps 185.5 mi (298.5 km) |
| 1970 | Aug 2 | Le Circuit Trans-Am | Mark Donohue | AMC Javelin | 70 Laps 185.5 mi (298.5 km) |
| 1971 | Aug 1 | Player's Quebec Trans-Am | Mark Donohue | AMC Javelin | 70 Laps 185.5 mi (298.5 km) |
| 1977 | Sept 11 | Molson Trans-Am | Peter Gregg | Porsche 934 | 38 Laps 100.7 mi (162.1 km) |
| 1978 | June 25 | Molson Trans-Am | Monte Shelton | Porsche 935 | 38 Laps 100.7 mi (162.1 km) |

### SCCA United States Road Racing Championship

| 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 | Mark Donohue | #6 Roger Penske Racing | Horst Kroll | #37 Altona Motors |

### SCCA Formula 5000

| Year | Date | Race | Driver | Chassis | Engine |
| 1967 | Sept 17 | St Jovite Grand Prix | Fred Ashplant | Brabham BT21 | Ford |
| 1969 | Sept 7 | Le Circuit Continental | David Hobbs | Surtees TS5 | Chevrolet |
| 1970 | Aug 1 | Le Circuit Continental | George Follmer | Lotus 70 | Ford |

### Atlantic Championship

| Year | Date | Driver |
| 1975 | July 6 | Elliott Forbes-Robinson |
| 1976 | July 11 | Gilles Villeneuve |
| 2007 | July 1 | Franck Perera |
| 2008 | June 29 | Junior Strous |

### Grand American Road Racing Championship

| Year | Date | Race | Driver | Team | Chassis | Engine |
| 2002 | Sept 15 | 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant | Didier Theys Fredy Lienhard Sr. Fredy Lienhard Jr. | #27 Doran Lista Racing | Dallara LMP | Judd |
| 2003 | Sept 21 | 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant | David Donohue Mike Borkowski Sascha Maassen | #58 Brumos Racing | Fabcar FDSC/03 | Porsche |
| 2004 | May 23 | 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant | Scott Pruett Max Papis | #01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates | Riley MkXI | Lexus |
| 2005 | May 21 | 6 Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant | Milka Duno Andy Wallace Jan Lammers | #2 CITGO Howard-Boss Motorsports | Crawford DP03 | Pontiac |

### Canadian Superbike Championship

| Year | Date | Driver | Motorcycle |
| 2003 | August 17 | Tom Kipp | Kawasaki ZX-7RR |
| 2004 | August 22 | Jordan Szoke | Honda CBR1000RR |
| 2006 | June 4 | Jordan Szoke | Kawasaki ZX-10RR |
| 2007 | June 3 | Jordan Szoke | Kawasaki ZX-10RR |
| 2012 | August 12 | Jordan Szoke | BMW S1000RR |
| 2013 | August 25 | Jordan Szoke | BMW S1000RR |

## Lap records

As of September 2019, the fastest official race lap records at Circuit Mont-Tremblant (St. Jovite) are listed as:
| Category | Time | Driver | Vehicle | Event |
| Road Course: 4.218 km (2004–present) |||||
| Champ Car | 1:17.327 | Sébastien Bourdais | Panoz DP01 | Champ Car Mont-Tremblant 07 |
| Formula Atlantic | 1:21.157 | Carl Skerlong | Swift 016.a | 2007 Mont-Tremblant Formula Atlantic round |
| Daytona Prototype | 1:29.308 | Max Angelelli | Riley MkXI | 2004 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| GT1 (GTS) | 1:31.856 | Tommy Riggins | Ford Mustang | 2003 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| GT | 1:35.910 | Cort Wagner [fr] | Ferrari 360 Modena GT | 2003 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:36.610 | Parker Thompson | Porsche 911 (991 II) GT3 Cup | 2019 Mont-Tremblant Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge round |
| Superbike | 1:39.711 | Jordan Szoke | BMW S1000RR | 2013 Mont-Tremblant CSBK round |
| Supersport | 1:42.080 | Francis Martin | Suzuki GSX-R600 | 2007 Mont-Tremblant CSBK round |
| SGS | 1:42.301 | Randy Pobst | Porsche 911 (996) GT3 Cup | 2004 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| F1600 | 1:43.418 | Michel Bonnet | Vector MG95 | 2011 Mont-Tremblant Canadian F1600 round |
| ST | 1:46.847 | Mathieu Audette | Acura RSX Type S | 2013 Mont-Tremblant CTCC round |
| North Road Course: 2.460 km (2004–present) |||||
| Superbike | 1:21.691 | Jordan Szoke | Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R | 2008 Mont-Tremblant CSBK round |
| Supersport | 1:23.482 | Chris Peris | Suzuki GSX-R600 | 2008 Mont-Tremblant CSBK round |
| Road Course: 4.260 km (1965–2002) |||||
| LMP900 | 1:24.201 | Fredy Lienhard, Jr. | Dallara SP1 | 2002 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| DP | 1:31.176 | Terry Borcheller | Doran JE4 | 2003 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| LMP675 | 1:31.803 | Andy Lally | Picchio D-USA-BMW | 2002 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| F1 | 1:32.200 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari 312B | 1970 Canadian Grand Prix |
| Can-Am | 1:33.400 | Alan Jones | Lola T333CS | 1978 Mont-Tremblant Can-Am round |
| Formula Atlantic | 1:35.033 | Gilles Villeneuve | March 76B | 1976 Mont-Tremblant Formula Atlantic round |
| American GT | 1:35.233 | Rob Morgan | Chevrolet Corvette | 2002 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| GT | 1:35.975 | Bill Auberlen | Ferrari 360 Modena GT | 2002 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| Formula 5000 | 1:39.000 | George Follmer | Lotus 70 | 1970 Mont-Tremblant F5000 round |
| Trans-Am | 1:41.513 | Ludwig Heimrath | Porsche 934/5 | 1977 Mont-Tremblant Trans-Am round |
| Group 7 | 1:44.900 | Bruce McLaren | McLaren-Elva Mk.IIB Chevrolet | 1966 Labatt 50 |
| Group 4 | 1:46.200 | John Surtees | Lola T70 Mk.2 | 1965 Player's Québec Mont-Tremblant |
| Porsche Carrera Cup | 1:46.932 | Michael Levitas | Porsche 911 (996) GT3 Cup | 2002 6 Hours of Mont-Tremblant |
| Group 2 | 1:52.100 | Sam Posey | Chevrolet Camaro | 1968 Mont-Tremblant 3 Hours |
| Group 3 | 1:56.700 | Jean-Paul Ostiguy | AC Cobra | 1967 St. Jean 67, U.S.A.M. Mont-Tremblant |
| Original North Road Course: 2.510 km (1964–2002) |||||
| Group 4 | 1:09.900 | Jim Hall | Chaparral 2A | 1965 La Course Labatt 50 |
| Prototype | 1:16.600 | Pedro Rodríguez Ludwig Heimrath | Ferrari 275 P Cooper T61 | 1964 Player's Québec Trophy |
| Formula Junior | 1:20.800 | Walt Mackay Norm Evenden | Lotus 18 Cooper-Chevrolet | 1964 Regional Mont-Tremblant (Invitational) 1964 Regional Mont-Tremblant (Trophy) |
| Group 3 | 1:21.700 | Jean Ouellet | AC Cobra | 1964 Regional Mont-Tremblant (Main) |