IMSA Confirms CTMP Return on July 1-3

Photo: Scott LePage/IMSA

IMSA has confirmed that it will return to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first time in three years, with the July 1-3 SportsCar Grand Prix moving ahead as scheduled despite Canada’s current COVID-19 vaccination entry requirement.

The sanctioning body distributed event information and travel documents to competitors on Thursday in what will mark the series’ first trip North of the Border since the onset of the pandemic.

“After a two-year hiatus due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, IMSA is excited to confirm a return to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park July 1–3, 2022,” IMSA President John Doonan wrote in the letter to competitors.

“Our summer visit to Ontario has become a staple of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and this year’s edition of the SportsCar Grand Prix will see the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and IMSA Prototype Challenge join the card.”

Per Canada’s current rules, all persons entering the country are required to be fully vaccinated, with at least two does of a COVID-19 vaccine accepted by the government, a mix of two accepted vaccines or at least one dose of the Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Additionally, the U.S. currently requires arriving passengers from Canada via air to hold proof of a negative COVID-19 test — either antigen or PCR — taken within one day of their departing flight stateside.

In his letter, Doonan said teams electing not to attend the CTMP event will still remain eligible for year-end prize money but will not be refunded entry fees if registered as a full season premium entrant.

It’s unclear on the exact percentage of the IMSA paddock that is currently unvaccinated, although the number is believed to be small.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John