Music: {allcanada} Canadian Grand Prix reaching out to younger fans

Friday, May 15, 2015

{allcanada} Canadian Grand Prix reaching out to younger fans

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MONTREAL — The Canadian Grand Prix is reaching out to a younger generation of motor racing fans.

Promoter Francois Dumontier announced a new ticket deal Friday aimed at families and young fans for the Formula One event June 5-7 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Children 15 or younger will get into a new family zone free if accompanied by an adult.

"A lot of people have told me they were here with their sons when Gilles Villeneuve won the race (in 1978)," said Dumontier. "But since then there was a break: the grandchildren haven't followed them.

"Maybe the Grand Prix was seen as inaccessible or too expensive. We want to bring families back."

Dumontier senses that the Grand Prix crowd is getting older, noting that in recent years the tickets that sell the quickest tend to be those closest to the subway stop on site, which makes for a shorter walk to the seats.

"They're buying tickets at the hairpin (near the Metro) rather than the Senna Corner," he said. "So we're aware of that and we want to bring back young people."

At the same time, they are offering fans 65 and over a discount of up to 50 per cent in one section.

Dumontier said other attractions this year include more high definition screens around the track and a cellphone app to help fans get around the site and follow the race. The open house when fans can visit the paddock area on the Thursday before the race has also been brought back.

A new trophy to be presented to the race winner was also unveiled.

As well as the F1 race, there will be Ferrari Challenge, Formula 1600 and Micra Cup (electric cars) events on race weekend.