Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, originally known as Mosport Park, stands as a prominent multi-track motorsport venue located north of Orono in Clarington, Ontario, Canada. Situated approximately 75 km (47 mi) east of Toronto, this facility has a rich history dating back to the late 1950s. Its evolution from a purpose-built road race course to a modern motorsport complex reflects the changing landscape of racing in North America. The name "Mosport"
itself is a portmanteau of "Motor Sport," indicative of its original purpose and the enterprise formed to construct the track.
Early Days and Design Philosophy
The circuit was designed and built in the late 1950s, marking it as the second purpose-built road race course in Canada. It followed Westwood Motorsport Park in Coquitlam, British Columbia, and succeeded earlier Ontario racing venues like Edenvale, Port Albert's Green Acres, and Nanticoke's Harewood Acres, all of which were airport circuits. The inaugural race at Mosport was a local event organized by the Oakville Light Car Club in June 1961. Shortly after, on June 25, the venue hosted its first major international event, the Player's 200, a sports car race that attracted drivers from around the world to rural Ontario.
Stirling Moss famously won the two-heat event in a Lotus 19, with Joakim Bonnier placing second and Olivier Gendebien third. Moss also played a role in the track's design; at his suggestion, a proposed hairpin was expanded into two distinct corners to enhance the challenge for drivers and increase spectator interest. These corners are now known as Moss Corner in his honor. Notably, unlike many historic motorsport venues, Mosport's track layout has largely remained unchanged from its original form, preserving much of its historic character.
International Acclaim and Series Hosting
Mosport quickly gained international recognition by hosting a series of international sports car races under the title "Canadian Grand Prix," a name typically reserved for Formula 1 events. Many of these events achieved immense popularity, frequently breaking Canadian sports attendance records. This success was a key factor in the founding of the Can-Am Series, which first visited the track in its inaugural season in 1966. Mosport hosted at least one Can-Am event every year of the series' history, with the exception of 1968.
In 1967, Canada's centennial year, Mosport showcased its versatility by hosting Formula One, USAC, and a 500cc Motorcycle Grand Prix. The Formula One Grand Prix of Canada remained at the track until 1977 before relocating to Montreal. Throughout its history, Mosport has been a host for a diverse array of racing series, including Formula One, USAC, World Sportscar Championship, Can-Am, Formula 5000, and numerous other sports car, open-wheel, and motorcycle series, solidifying its place as a premier motorsport destination.
Modernization, Ownership Changes, and Renaming
In 2001, the entire circuit underwent a significant repaving to meet FIA specifications, and its width was increased to 13 meters (42 feet). During this process, drivers were consulted to ensure that the essential character of the "old" track was preserved, resulting in the maintenance of almost all the original "racing lines." Mosport has seen a succession of owners since the original public company that built the track. Notable past owners include Norm Namerow and Harvey Hudes, both of whom have been inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame for their contributions to Canadian motorsport.
In 1998, Panoz Motorsports acquired the facility, and the newly formed American Le Mans Series made its first visit to Mosport in 1999. A significant change occurred in June 2011 when Canadian Motorsports Ventures Ltd. (CMV), a group including Orlando Corp. Chairman Carlo Fidani and Canadian road racing driver Ron Fellows, purchased the facility. This ownership change led to a major partnership announcement in February 2012 with Canadian Tire, resulting in the renaming of the track to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, marking a new chapter in its storied history.
