• The Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 starts the back half of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) championship.
• The track—the second motorsport venue in Canada—is a 2.459-mile, 10-turn clockwise circuit known for its dramatic elevation changes and as a former Formula 1 host from 1967 to 1977.
• After the #93 Pit+Paddock FL5 Civic Type R TCR clinched P5 in the championship at Watkins Glen, momentum is on our side for our home race.

For the first and only time during the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race calendar, we have a home-court advantage. Montreal Motorsport Group (MMG) considers Canadian Tire Motorsport Park its stomping ground, a 2.459-mile, 10-turn clockwise circuit known for its dramatic elevation changes and as a former Formula 1 host from 1967 to 1977. If the name doesn’t sound too familiar, it’s because the circuit’s new guise is still rather fresh; most race fans know the venue as Mosport Park and it assumed its new name in 2012. Over the years, this Canadian motorsport venue has played host to most major international series, including Can-Am, Trans-Am, Formula 5000, IMSA, Indy Car, and World Sports Car Championship.

Given its distance and number of turns, the course is lively and drivers should expect to keep their hands busy throughout. The lap starts with the field building speed into Turns 1 and 2, a super quick right-hander followed by a flowing left. Both require the drivers to use every bit of track surface available, including the exit curbing. Turn 3 gets bumpy through entry and exit. Compared to the first two, this corner demands tidiness; drifting onto the grass and often ends poorly. The course gets tight through Turn 4 before it opens up. It’s a traction race onto the long straightaway—the longest of the circuit—before you negotiate a fast right-left-right sequence to end the lap.

FROM THE DRIVERS

To say we have some unfinished business to attend to from Watkins Glen would be an understatement, but we still walked away from the IMPC mid-season race with one major accomplishment: sole possession of P5 in the championship. Yoshihara’s focus has been unwavering since our last race weekend. He’s logged plenty of time on the simulator to acclimate to the circuit, as well as repetitive reps for executing the perfect driver change during time-sensitive pit stops. “I’m ready to go,” said Yoshihara about the upcoming race. “The last few weekends have felt great in the car and I’m excited to show the home fans what the #93 Pit+Paddock FL5 Civic Type R TCR can do.”

Wittmer and the rest of the MMG camp were equally as excited to be on home soil. There’s an undeniable allure to racing on familiar territory with the Canadian flag waving from the grandstands. Wittmer was succinct in his weekend forecast: “Eyes on the prize.” Indeed, the prize is there for the taking. The team has shown the rest of the Michelin Pilot Challenge field that it means business—especially over the last three race weekends—and standing on the podium here would be the sweetest way to start the second half of the championship.

THE GREEN FLAG

The green flag drops at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park 120 race on Saturday, July 13 from 1:20 PM to 3:25 PM ET with practice on Friday and qualifying preceding the two-hour contest.

Thank you to ARP, ENEOS, Turn 14 Distribution, Mishimoto, Whiteline, and DBA for supporting Pit+Paddock’s inaugural IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge campaign with Montreal Motorsport Group.

Gallery