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McLaren Fans Canada Track Guide
By Sam Cooper June 5 2008
The Canadian Grand Prix is one of the fastest grand prix on the current formula one calendar, the cars are propelled to speeds exceeding 195mph, for some of the faster and more aerodynamically efficient cars that reach over 200mph on Canada’s main straights.

McLaren Fans Track Guide

 Round 7- Montreal- Canada

History of the circuit

The Canadian Grand Prix is one of the fastest grand prix on the current formula one calendar, the cars are propelled to speeds exceeding 195mph, for some of the faster and more aerodynamically efficient cars that reach over 200mph on Canada’s main straights.

Racing here has always brought retirements, as the famous wall of champions is set to catch, even the best of drivers out. Conditions at the circuit are normally warm and dry, and the current weather forecasts for the race and qualifying are warm and dry, on Friday there is a 59% chance of rain.

The Canadian Grand Prix has existed since 1967, Jack Brabham was the first driver to win the race at Mosport park. For the 1968 race the Canadian Grand Prix was held at Mont-Tremblant circuit which is located in Quebec. Denny Hulme won in his McLaren Ford, the last and next time the Mont-Tremblant circuit hosted the Canadian Grand Prix was in 1970, where the eight time winner Jacky Ickx won the race there.

In 1978 the Canadian Grand Prix moved to the Circuit Île Notre-Dame or as we now know it the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, it has been hosted at the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve ever since, in 1987 the race was abandoned due to a sponsorship clash between two breweries.

The most successful driver to have raced at the circuit is Michael Schumacher after he won seven times at the circuit, and Ferrari are the most successful team, as they have won eleven times at the circuit.

Characteristics of the circuit

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is renowned for being hard on the cars brakes, the long straights followed by slow and twisty hairpins and chicanes. As a result of this, the cars run a low downforce setup to achieve the best lap time.

The track has the feel of a street circuit, barriers line the 4.36 km track, making it very treacherous if there is oil or water on the track, hitting one of those barriers, will, almost certainly result in retirement. Bridgestone are planning to bring their soft and super soft tyres to this weekends Grand Prix.

Circuit Map

Where to watch

One of the best things about the Canadian Grand Prix, is there is never a place where they’re wont be any action. Turns 12, 10, 8 and 1 are all great places to watch overtaking. Though if its crashes and incidents that your interested in, the last turn well known for its crashes into the wall of champions.

2007 Results

Pos.DriverTeamTimePoints
1.L. HamiltonMcLaren1:44:11.29210.0
2.N. HeidfeldBMW+ 4.3008.0
3.A. WurzWilliams+ 5.3006.0
4.H. KovalainenRenault+ 6.7005.0
5.K. RäikkönenFerrari+ 13.0004.0
6.T. SatoSuper Aguri+ 16.6003.0
7.F. AlonsoMcLaren+ 21.9002.0
8.R. SchumacherToyota+ 22.8001.0

Other Results

Record SetDriverConstructorTime
Pole PositionLewis HamiltonMcLaren1:15.707
Fastest LapFernando AlonsoMcLaren1:16.367

McLaren Fans Predictions

Ferrari does look strong, their powerful engine and highly aerodynamically efficient car will benefit their straight line speed and more importantly, make it especially hard to overtake the two red cars.

Rain is forecast that could give the likes of McLaren and BMW a chance to win the race, which, unless McLaren or BMW can get in front of the two Ferrari’s, anything but a red win, looks very hard to see.

If anyone’s going to challenge Ferrari, its going to be McLaren, Lewis has always gone well at Montreal but it could be an ideal time for Heikki Kovalainen to win his fist race.

Track map copyright F.I.A

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