The Roar on the Lake Shore is no more.
For the first time since its inception in 1986, IndyCar Series’ annual downtown Toronto race will shift north to Markham, Ont., starting next year, officials announced Wednesday.
The open-wheel auto racing event, previously known as Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, Honda Indy Toronto and the Molson Indy, saw many big-name Indy-car drivers come to the city over the years to tackle the 11-turn, 2.874-kilometre race around Exhibition Place.
Between Aug. 14 and 16 next year, drivers will race on a new temporary track in the eastern precinct of Markham’s downtown, between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, the Unionville GO tracks and Highway 407, officials said. The course will be 3.52 kilometres long and feature 12 turns.
“The inaugural Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham will build on the legacy of this great Ontario event which started in 1986,” Jeff Atkinson, president of the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, said in a news release.
“We look forward to welcoming all our fans, the drivers and race teams out to this terrific new venue in Markham Centre next August.”
Usually held in mid-July, the Indy race would add to what will be a busy summer at Exhibition Place.
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In June, thousands of soccer fans will flock to BMO Field on the Exhibition grounds for six games of the men’s FIFA World Cup. Around that time, event officials would begin construction of the course for the race, which is one of the oldest on IndyCar’s schedule.
Officials did not mention the World Cup in the news release Wednesday, but said the agreement with Markham goes beyond 2026. Race organizer and promoter Green Savoree Toronto ULC did not specify the length of the agreement and instead called it a “multi-year” deal.
Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti thanked race officials in the release.
“Markham is ready to build on its strong sports legacy and offer a new home where this celebrated summer tradition can thrive,” he said.
“I am extremely proud of our team at the City of Markham for bringing this initiative across the finish line in just a matter of months.”
IndyCar is the highest class of open-wheel auto racing in North America.
Mexico’s Pato O’Ward was this year’s winner of the Toronto Indy, which has seen drivers such as Scott Dixon, Josef Newgarden and Will Power, as well as Canadian racing legends James Hinchcliffe and Jacques Villeneuve, race around the track over the years.
Michael Andretti, son of legendary race car driver Mario Andretti, holds the record for most wins at the Toronto Indy with seven — his first in 1989 and his last in 2001.
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