JOANN VILLENEUVE AND EPPIE WIETZES NAMED GRAND MARSHALS FOR VARAC VINTAGE GRAND PRIX
AT CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK
Weekend features FIA Masters Historic Formula 1, celebrating the 50th anniversary year
of the first F1 Grand Prix of Canada
(BOWMANVILLE, ON – June 14, 2017) Joann Villeneuve and Eppie Wietzes have been named as the Grand Marshals for the Vintage Automobile Racing Association of Canada (VARAC) Vintage Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend, June 16-18. The weekend features the FIA Masters Historic Formula 1, celebrating the 50th anniversary year of the first F1 Grand Prix of Canada held at CTMP – then Mosport Park – on August 27, 1967.
Beautifully restored cars from the past 50-plus years of motorsports will take to CTMP’s world-famous Grand Prix circuit. Other feature events include the Canadian round of the 2017 Diamond Jubilee Formula Junior World Tour. This tour encompasses races in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, at famous tracks like CTMP, Monza, Brands Hatch, and Zandvoort.
Joann Villeneuve, wife of the late great former Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve and the mother of Jacques – the only Canadian driver to have won the Formula 1 drivers’ championship (1997) – and Eppie Wietzes, who drove in two Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, will be on hand Saturday for the 50 Years of F1 In Canada Celebration meet and greet from 10:45 to 11:30 am. Fans will receive a vintage poster. Wietzes will then give the ‘start your engines’ command for the 1:30 pm start of the Masters race, while Villeneuve will wave the green flag from the starters stand.
“It’s an honour to do this,” said Wietzes. “I can’t believe it’s been 50 years already. I was 29-years-old when I drove that Lotus – lots of memories, the kind you never forget.”
“It will be a trip down memory lane for me,” said Villeneuve. “There’s so many memories of being at Mosport and camping out with the kids on a race weekend – we had a blast. We loved that life.”
Other highlights include the MG & Triumph Challenge, including the Simms Cup Trophy for MGs and the Group 44 Trophy for Triumphs, as well as the “Field of Dreams Classic Car Show,” with parade laps on Sunday. Other classes include Open Wheel, Historic & Vintage Production, Sports Racers, Group 70+ and Group 90+ for cars built between 1973 and 1995.
“It’s going to be a great Father’s Day weekend here at the track and what better way to spend it than with a unique trip down motorsports memory lane,” said Myles Brandt, President and General Manager, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. “We are honoured to have both Joann and Eppie as our Grand Marshals for the weekend.”
Various ticket packages are available:
Advanced Discount Tickets – available until June 14
• Advanced price for Weekend Super Tickets is just $30 per person.
• Camping is free!
At the Gate
• Weekend Super Tickets are $35 per person.
Single-day tickets are $15 for Friday, $20 on Saturday and $20 on Sunday. Children 16 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. For more information or to purchase tickets visit online at
www.canadiantiremotorsportpark.com, call the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm ET), or email info@ctmpark.com.
-30-
Dave Drimmie, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
dave@ctmpark.com, (416)835-6601
Photos: Joann Villeneuve / Eppie Wietzes
Photo Credits: Photo of Joann Villeneuve provided by Melanie Villeneuve. Eppie Wietzes, CTMP Archives
About Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) is the leading racing and automotive performance facility in Canada. And more than that, now it is a unique entertainment venue, suitable for most any occasion. In addition to our major international races, we have hosted events ranging from corporate needs to fashion shows, to weddings. Our state-of-the-art facilities offer the flexibility and capacity to accommodate any event. Visit canadiantiremotorsportpark.com for more information
Linkback: https://www.canadianracingonline.com/smf/index.php?topic=24209.msg116775#msg116775
