This year, Formula 1 drivers will once again visit 24 circuits across all continents, with the exception of Africa. In the series ‘Forgotten Circuits’, we take a trip down memory lane and revisit some forgotten Formula 1 circuits. Today in our series of forgotten circuits: Mont-Tremblant in Canada, which was brought back to life by Lawrence Stroll.
Since the early 1980s, the Canadian Grand Prix has been inextricably linked with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, but in the distant past, the remote Mont-Tremblant was also visited by the F1 circus.
Mont-Tremblant is known for its beautiful ski slopes and accompanying resorts. You might almost forget that this city, located northwest of Montreal, also has a race circuit with a unique history. A Formula 1 race was held there twice. And once – in more recent history – there was Dutch success when Robert Doornbos won a ChampCar race there.
Carved Out in the Rolling Hills
The Mont-Tremblant circuit, also known to many as St. Jovite, was essentially born out of necessity. As a popular winter sports destination, the local population was busy for several months of the year, but there was little employment in the remaining months. Leo Samson, a local hotel owner with a passion for motorsport, purchased a piece of land in the 1950s. Carved out in the rolling hills, the Mont-Tremblant circuit was created. It opened in August 1964.
‘Le Circuit’, as the track was called, had a challenging character due to the elevation changes and challenging sharp turns. Moreover, bumps on the track appeared quite quickly, a result of the harsh winters. Infamous was the straight stretch nicknamed ‘The Hump’, where cars regularly became airborne.
In 1968, the Formula 1 circus visited for the first time. The bumpy surface took a heavy toll: many cars did not reach the finish line due to mechanical mishaps. Denny Hulme and Bruce McLaren secured a double victory for McLaren. Jacky Ickx won the Formula 1 race two years later. For the Belgian, it was a revenge on the ’68 edition, when he broke his leg in a crash during training.
‘Le Circuit’ Gradually Fell into Disrepair
In the years that followed, Formula 1 moved to Mosport and then to Montreal. The remote location of the circuit and the bumpy asphalt were two significant reasons for Formula 1 to move elsewhere.
Afterwards, ‘Le Circuit’ gradually fell into disrepair. However, in 2000, the entire complex was purchased and renovated by Lawrence Stroll, the fashion mogul from Montreal who had made a fortune with the Tommy Hilfiger label and is now primarily known as the father of Lance Stroll and the owner of the F1 team Aston Martin. Today, the track is back in use, including for historical races. And in 2007, Robert Doornbos had a success, winning a ChampCar race in the rain.
Incidentally, the circuit was also the long-time home of the famous Jim Russell Racing Driver School, where all the Villeneuves learned the finer points of racing.
Mont-Tremblant
In the photo at the top: Vic Elford (Cooper T86B-BRM) in front of Henri Pescarolo (Matra MS11-Matra) during the 1969 Grand Prix at Mont-Tremblant circuit.
