CANADIAN GRAND PRIX Early Events and 1967 Race

Early Events

The early CGP was one of the premier events of the new Canadian Sports Car Championship. Several international sports car drivers as well as Formula One drivers participated in the event.

In 1966 the Canadian-American Challenge Cup ran the event, with American Mark Donohue winning. When F1 took over in the following year, CSCC and Can-Am series continued to complete at Mosport.

1967  Player's Grand Prix of Canada

(Information from Player's Grand Prix Canada, 20 September, 1970, Le Circuit, Mont Tremblant, Quebec program.)

A Grand Prix race in Canada? Formula One cars? The prospective organizers must first convince the FIA that they have the ability to run a F1 race; the track must pass inspection; money is needed - more than a quarter million dollars.

The Canadian Racing Drivers Association asked Imperial Tobacco to bankroll the race if it were granted, the company assured it would.

Hill and Brabham(below)                                                                                 Gurney .. Hobbs .. McLaren (below)

All the Formula One teams were contacted and agreed to come. Jimmy Clark and Graham Hill (Lotus), Chris Amon (Ferrari), Jack Brabham and Denis Hulme (Brabham), Dan Gurney (Eagle), Bruce McLaren (McLaren) and John Surtees (BRMs.Honda).                      

Player's did their part, spending promotion dollars and pushing the race.

Old, wily professional Jack Brabham kept pushing until starter Wally Branston waved a soggy chechered flag in his face to signal victory and the end of the first Player's Grand Prix of Canada.

The president of Imperial Tobacco, Jack Keith, presented Jack Brabham with a $10,575 cheque.

A success? Yes. But more than that, the race moved Canada into the big leagues. It led to Canada being accepted into the FIA and meant it was guaranteed a Grand Prix date there after.

VIDEO of 1967 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX