De Angelis: GTP Return to CTMP Would Be “So Special”

Photo: Rick Dole/IMSA

Roman De Angelis believes it would be “so special” if the GTP class returned to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, suggesting the Canadian fans would be “pretty pumped” to see the top-class prototype machinery back at Mosport.

The Heart of Racing Team driver, who took part in last weekend’s Chevrolet Grand Prix in the GTD class subbing for team regular Tom Gamble, who was on FIA World Endurance Championship duty, revealed the Aston Martin Valkyrie, which he normally drives in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, is the only car platform he hasn’t driven at his home track.

The GTP class made a one-and-only appearance at CTMP in 2023 (pictured above) and dropped off the calendar the following year when Indianapolis Motor Speedway was added to the WeatherTech Championship schedule in place of the GT-only round at Lime Rock Park.

Tom Blomqvist and Colin Braun won that event in Meyer Shank Racing’s Acura ARX-06.

“Obviously I’m in a position where I could be a bit biased because I’m from this country,” De Angelis told Sportscar365. “But it would be so special to be able to race this track in that car (Aston Martin Valkyrie).

“It would probably be one of the most insane tracks globally that you could put GTP on. I think most of the drivers agree that it would be fantastic.

“Obviously there’s reasons why they’re not here. I don’t know what they are and I’m sure there’s good reasons why.

“I think the Canadian fans would be pretty pumped about having GTP here as well. It would be fantastic.”

Ricky Taylor, who also made his first-ever IMSA LMP2 start last weekend, subbing for Harry Tincknell in the No. 52 Bryan Herta Autosport with PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports Oreca 07 Gibson, returned to the 10-turn, 2.459-mile circuit since the last GTP there race three years ago.

“I miss coming here,” he told Sportscar365. “Every prototype should come here. It’s such a great track. I think the racing, because the way the corners go, it’s hard to pass within your class.

“But because of the closing speeds, it makes it really interesting racing with a lot of high commitment, high risk stuff.

“I think it would be great to come back with GTP.”

IMSA President John Doonan has maintained the class does not race at CTMP for budget reasons, with GTP limited to nine rounds out of the 11 total WeatherTech Championship events annually.

With the 2027 WeatherTech Championship calendar having been locked in since March, the chances of a change for next year is highly unlikely.

But when asked what current GTP race he’d be in favor of dropping for a return to CTMP, Taylor, a Cadillac factory driver said: “Detroit can’t go off the schedule, that’s for sure!”

He added: “We have great races and go to some amazing tracks. But even in Watkins Glen, you get all the Canadian fans that go there just because it’s close.

“You get the sense of how much everyone misses GTP coming here. I think any driver would love to come back.

“Ten races would be cool too.”

De Angelis believes the V12-powered Valkyrie, which debuted in the series last year, would be an instant fan favorite, and also pose a challenge around the old-school circuit.

“Obviously it’s so high speed, long-duration corners,” he said. “Traffic management, even with the LMP2s, you see their cornering speed vs. us (in GTD) is insane.

“You could imagine how it would be with the GTP with the straight-line speed ability they have as well.

“It would be a special race.”

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