Canadian Grand Prix transforms Montreal park into F1 circuit

Every year, Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve undergoes a massive transformation, from a public park into a Formula 1 racetrack.

But Sandrine Garneau, chief operating officer of the Canadian Grand Prix, says this winter made things especially difficult.

“This winter has been particularly rough for us, but with a great partnership that we have with the park and the City of Montreal, we were able to start some of our builds in the fall, which is ultimately what saved us,” said Garneau.

She says it takes 5,000 workers and volunteers to pull it all off, with nearly everything on-site built from scratch, including 17 kilometres of fencing and 200,000 sq. ft. of scaffolding structures.

“Everything from the grandstands to the hospitality to the platforms, all of those are 100 per cent temporary,” said Garneau.

This year, organizers are combining the race weekend with a festival experience, adding a full concert lineup to the schedule.

The Canadian lineup includes Simple Plan, Bryan Adams, Alessia Cara, and The Beaches.

“You have F1 experience by day, and then you have concerts at night,” said Garneau.

Last year, more than 350,000 fans attended over the course of the weekend. Organizers are expecting a slightly bigger crowd this year and have added more hospitality suites to handle the demand.

“The city comes completely alive during F1, which is absolutely wonderful,” said Garneau.

“It’s going to be completely wild.”