Latest news with #TorontoIndy
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto begins today at Exhibition Place
Winner Colton Herta (26) of the United States drives during the 2024 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy in Toronto on Sunday, July 21, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Arlyn McAdorey TORONTO — The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto kicks off with a full day of practices and qualifying this morning. Headlined by an IndyCar Series race on Sunday, there's a total of nine races from several series and a variety of automobile classes over the weekend. All of the races will take place around a street course that goes through Exhibition Place, along Lake Shore Boulevard, and then loops back through the fairgrounds in downtown Toronto. Toronto's Devlin DeFrancesco is the lone Canadian in the IndyCar field. Colton Herta of the United States is the returning champion. Admission is free today but fans are encouraged to make a donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Canada's Wickens to drive feature race at home 7 years after crash left him paralyzed
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (AP) — Robert Wickens' promising racing career seemed as if it was cut tragically short after a 2018 crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. But almost seven years later, Wickens is racing in the headline event of the Chevrolet Grand Prix, competing at the highest levels of his sport in Canada for the first time since that accident. The event is at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a course Wickens grew up around and where his dream of becoming a professional race car driver first began to take shape. 'It's been a long time since I've raced a home race as the headline class,' Wickens said Thursday. 'The Toronto Indy in 2018 would have been the last time, and thankfully, we finished on the podium there.' Racing IMSA GTD, the highest class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, on a track where he used to watch his heroes compete as a boy, is a full-circle moment for Wickens. 'I raced a lot of the cart track just next door, and when I wasn't on track, I'd ride my bike over to the car track and watch whatever car was driving around,' Wickens said. 'Whether it was a IMSA race weekend or a regional kind of Formula Ford race, or a Canadian NASCAR race, anything in between. 'I feel like I knew every inch of this track, even though I didn't drive it much.' Wickens' professional career officially began in 2005 when, at 16, he started racing in Formula BMW USA with Team Apex Racing USA. As a result, he didn't spend much time at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park like many Canadians in motorsport do, instead cutting his teeth in the United States and Europe before graduating to IndyCar in 2017. After getting a full ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at the start of the 2018 season, Wickens was named the Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year that May after leading two laps and finishing ninth in the race. Wickens continued to thrive that summer, finishing third at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 15, 2018 and climbing to sixth in the IndyCar rankings. Disaster struck just over a month later, on Aug. 19, when he sustained a serious spinal cord injury in a catastrophic crash during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway that left him partially paralyzed. Using hand controls, Wickens resumed driving after his injury and, this year, began racing a Corvette for DXDT Racing in the Sprint Cup of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Back competing at the highest levels of North American motorsport, Wickens said 'it's amazing' to be part of the Chevrolet Grand Prix. 'I love the added attention of a hometown race,' he said. 'I think any racing driver wants that spotlight moment. You want to be the quarterback in the fourth quarter at the two-minute warning with the game on the line and the ball in your hands.' Wickens' goal for the Chevrolet Grand Prix is straightforward: run a mistake-free event. 'I think in the IMSA WeatherTech, SportsCar Championship, you can't expect success, you have to work for it,' said Wickens, noting that Corvette has won 13 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park since 2001. 'You have to be perfect. 'So far, in my few races that I've done in the Corvette, we've shown a lot of potential, but we haven't been perfect, and because of that, we haven't gotten the end result.' Because Wickens is racing on home soil for the first time since his accident, he's offering all kinds of unique fan experiences through his website. That includes a tour of DXDT Racing, a personal tour of his Corvette Z06 GT3.R with his custom-made Bosch electronic hand control system, and a photo op on the track. Wickens has also organized a viewing section for anyone who wants to join outside of Turn 2, his favorite place to watch races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park when he was growing up. 'It's such a family sport. It's a lot of parents that love the sport, it's generational fandom,' Wickens said. 'I think it's so important when you see kids around that they just have a great experience because that was me growing up, right? 'I remember my first Toronto Indy, or my first time at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and meeting drivers and getting autographs and seeing the car firsthand and just how welcoming it's always been. Now I feel like it's my turn with the baton to run that back.' ___ AP auto racing:
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wickens to drive feature race at home seven years after crash left him paralyzed
Robert Wickens's promising racing career seemed like it was cut tragically short after a 2018 crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. But almost seven years later, Wickens is racing in the headline event of the Chevrolet Grand Prix, competing at the highest levels of his sport in Canada for the first time since that accident. The event is at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont., a course Wickens grew up around and where his dream of becoming a professional race car driver first began to take shape. 'It's been a long time since I've raced a home race as the headline class,' Wickens said in a video call Thursday. 'The Toronto Indy in 2018 would have been the last time, and thankfully, we finished on the podium there.' Racing IMSA GTD, the highest class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, on a track where he used to watch his heroes compete as a boy, is a full-circle moment for Wickens. 'I raced a lot of the cart track just next door, and when I wasn't on track, I'd ride my bike over to the car track and watch whatever car was driving around,' Wickens said. 'Whether it was a IMSA race weekend or a regional kind of Formula Ford race, or a Canadian NASCAR race, anything in between. 'I feel like I knew every inch of this track, even though I didn't drive it much.' Wickens's professional career officially began in 2005 when, at 16, he started racing in Formula BMW USA with Team Apex Racing USA. As a result, he didn't spend much time at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park like many Canadians in motorsport do, instead cutting his teeth in the United States and Europe before graduating to IndyCar in 2017. After getting a full ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at the start of the 2018 season, Wickens was named the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year that May after leading two laps and finishing ninth during the race. Wickens continued to thrive that summer, including a third-place finish at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 15, 2018, climbing to sixth in the IndyCar rankings. Disaster struck just over a month later, on Aug. 19, when he sustained a serious spinal cord injury in a catastrophic crash during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway that left him partially paralyzed. Using hand controls, Wickens resumed driving after his injury and, this year, began racing a Corvette for DXDT Racing in the Sprint Cup of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Back competing at the highest levels of North American motorsport, Wickens said 'it's amazing' to be part of the Chevrolet Grand Prix. 'I love the added attention of a hometown race,' he said. 'I think any racing driver wants that spotlight moment. You want to be the quarterback in the fourth quarter at the two-minute warning with the game on the line and the ball in your hands.' Wickens's goal for the Chevrolet Grand Prix is straightforward: just run a mistake-free event. 'I think in the IMSA WeatherTech, SportsCar Championship, you can't expect success, you have to work for it,' said Wickens, noting that Corvette has won 13 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park since 2001. 'You have to be perfect. 'So far, in my few races that I've done in the Corvette, we've shown a lot of potential, but we haven't been perfect, and because of that, we haven't gotten the end result.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Because Wickens is racing back on home soil for the first time since his accident, he's offering all kinds of unique fan experiences through his website. That includes a tour of DXDT Racing, a personal tour of his Corvette Z06 GT3.R with his custom-made Bosch electronic hand control system, and a photo op on the track. Wickens has also organized a viewing section for anyone who wants to join outside of Turn 2, his favourite place to watch races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park when he was growing up. 'It's such a family sport. It's a lot of parents that love the sport, it's generational fandom,' said Wickens. 'I think it's so important when you see kids around that they just have a great experience because that was me growing up, right? 'I remember my first Toronto Indy, or my first time at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and meeting drivers and getting autographs and seeing the car firsthand and just how welcoming it's always been. Now I feel like it's my turn with the baton to run that back.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Cision Canada
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
Pedal for a Purpose: Ride the Track 2025 Opens the Toronto Indy Circuit to Fuel Kids Across the GTA
In partnership with Exhibition Place and Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, The Children's Breakfast Club invites the public to cycle for a cause TORONTO, July 3, 2025 /CNW/ - The Children's Breakfast Clubs has announced Ride the Track 2025, an exciting opportunity for Toronto families and community members to cycle the iconic Toronto Indy track while raising funds to fight childhood food insecurity. In partnership with Exhibition Place, Canada's premier destination for events and entertainment, and Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, Ride the Track 2025 will take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, transforming the legendary Exhibition Place circuit into a family-friendly event in support of The Children's Breakfast Clubs, a Toronto-based nonprofit that provides over 10,000 hot meals to children every week. Attendees will experience a ribbon-cutting ceremony with appearances by professional hockey player Mikyla Grant-Mentis, Toronto City Councillors Anthony Perruzza and Brad Bradford, and Member of Parliament Michael Ma. All proceeds from the event will support breakfast and lunch programs in underserved communities across Toronto and the GTA, helping fuel better learning, health and futures for families. "This is more than a ride — it's a movement," says Zubeda Nanji, Executive Director of The Children's Breakfast Club. "Every child deserves a nutritious meal to start their day, and this event helps make that possible." "Offering the community such a unique experience while supporting The Children's Breakfast Clubs is something our team is incredibly proud and honoured to do," said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto. "We are thrilled to once again open the legendary Toronto Indy track to the public while contributing to such a vital cause." "We are delighted to host Ride the Track 2025 and continue our partnership with these two impactful organizations," said Don Boyle, CEO of Exhibition Place. "Bringing the community together to support such an important cause is a privilege and we are happy to be able to offer such an experience to the public." Ride the Track 2025 will take place on Saturday, July 19, 2025, starting at 5 p.m. For more information and to register, visit with options for families, schools, community groups, and sponsors. About Ride the Track 2025 Ride the Track is a first-of-its-kind community cycling event giving the public rare access to ride on the iconic Toronto Indy Track at Exhibition Place. Open to all ages, the event raises funds for The Children's Breakfast Club — helping provide hot, nutritious meals to kids across Toronto and the GTA. This year's event brings together families, local leaders, and special guests for a day of movement, connection, and purpose. About The Children's Breakfast Clubs The Children's Breakfast Club is a Toronto-based nonprofit providing healthy meals, educational programs, and community support to children across Southern Ontario. With over 40 years of service, the organization now delivers more than 10,000 meals per week, helping fuel brighter futures for the next generation. About Exhibition Place Established in 1879 and located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto, the award-winning Exhibition Place is Canada's largest entertainment venue, hosting 2,029 events and attracting over 5.5 million visitors a year. The 192-acre site is an integral component of Toronto and Ontario's economy, particularly with respect to conventions, sports, festivals, recreation, culture, and tourism. Exhibition Place boasts the award-winning, LEED Gold Enercare Centre; Canada's largest exhibition and convention centre, and the Automotive Building LEED Silver conference venue. Since 2004, Exhibition Place has undertaken an environmental stewardship initiative, entitled GREENSmart; which includes the promotion of sustainable development, environmental initiatives and leading-edge green technologies and practices across the site. About Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is a world-class motorsports festival which takes place annually on a 2.874-kilometre (1.786-mile), 11-turn temporary circuit using the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. The event features many attractions, food trucks, interactive displays and activities, and supports local charities. Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday which offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada. Since 2010, event fundraising has raised over $1 million for charity. As one of Ontario's largest annual sporting events with the first race held in 1986 first known as the Molson Indy, it has become a prestigious meeting place for some of the world's fastest race car drivers including past NTT INDYCAR SERIES champions like Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden, Alex Palou and Will Power as well as Canadian racing greats Scott Goodyear, James Hinchcliffe, Greg Moore, Alex Tagliani, Paul Tracy, Jacques Villeneuve, Robert Wickens and more. Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto is owned and operated by Green Savoree Toronto, ULC, whose affiliates also promote three additional INDYCAR SERIES races: Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding (Feb. 28 - March 2, 2025), The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport (July 4-6, 2025) and Grand Prix of Portland (Aug. 8-10, 2025).
Fox Sports
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Tickets On Sale for 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto
INDYCAR Public sales for all 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto multiday tickets are underway at The 37th edition of the motorsports festival headlined by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns July 18-20 to Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto. The longstanding summer event again will bring high-speed racing action to Toronto's downtown streets alongside a festival atmosphere full of family fun with interactive displays and diverse food and beverage options. The weekend offers great value for families, as children 12 and under receive free general admission every day when accompanied by a ticketed adult. On track, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will take on the 1.786-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit built on Exhibition Place near the Lake Ontario shoreline. On Friday, July 18, Your Ontario Honda Dealers Present Free Fan Friday, which offers general admission courtesy of the Ontario Honda Dealers Association through a voluntary donation to Make-A-Wish Canada. Since 2010, Toronto Indy fundraising has raised over $1 million for the charity. Fans can further enhance their Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto experience by purchasing a Paddock Pass, which grants access to the 'locker room of motorsports.' Spectators looking to get even closer to the action can add a Pit Pass. For children ages 5-12, the Rookie Racers program offers behind-the-scenes experiences including access to the drivers and race cars. Pricing starts at $85 for 2-Day General Admission for Saturday and Sunday. Fans planning on using public transportation can purchase a GO Combo ticket that includes a 2-Day General Admission ticket and two round-trip GO Transit fares to and from the event for $90 at Bronze-level 2-Day Grandstand seating is available for $110. Silver and Gold levels are priced at $170 and $235, respectively. The Gold 2-Day Grandstand seat also includes a Paddock Pass ($80 value). For full ticket pricing and 2025 event information and news, visit or follow Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on social media using #indyTO. recommended
