MARKHAM, ONT. – The angel on top of the Princes’ Gates will no longer gaze over Turn 1 of Canada’s only NTT Indy Car Series race, as the event is relocating to suburban Markham, Ont.
The open-wheel racing series announced on Wednesday that the Grand Prix of Toronto will be moving from Exhibition Place in downtown Toronto to this northeastern suburb, with the race now scheduled for later in the summer. Mayor Frank Scarpitti officially confirmed the five-year agreement at a press conference in Markham Centre, which is the business hub of the municipality.
“Markham, start your engines, the Indy race is coming to our city,” said Scarpitti. “This is a major milestone for Markham, which will become the starting point for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham in 2026. We are excited and honored to host this prestigious three-day auto racing event around this time next year.”
The Grand Prix of Toronto has been part of the Indy Car schedule since 1986 and has taken place at Exhibition Place since its first race.
Previously known as Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, it typically happened in July; however, the Markham event will be held from August 14-16 in 2026. The City of Markham has begun work on setting up both festival grounds and a temporary track in collaboration with public transport agency Metrolinx and other local partners.
Neil Lumsden, Ontario’s Minister of Sport, mentioned that bringing this event to York Region would help spur economic growth in Markham.
“When I talk about sport, people often say, ‘Well, yeah, you’re into sports,’ but I’m also focused on business and want our communities to thrive because of it,” Lumsden stated at the same conference. “In 2024 alone, Indy attracted over 150,000 attendees and generated more than $50 million in economic impact.”
“That’s making a real difference through sports.”
The Ontario government revealed on July 18 that it would allocate $1.5 million to support the 2025 Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto at Exhibition Place. Mexico’s Pato O’Ward won that race on July 20.
This year saw Toronto host one of four Indy Car races held on street circuits; now plans for a new track in Markham are being developed using regular roads.
The proposed temporary course will be constructed within downtown Markham’s eastern area between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, Unionville GO tracks and Highway 407. Tony Cotman from NZR Consulting is responsible for designing this new track featuring 12 turns across a distance of 3.52 kilometers.
A key aspect of the Markham course will include dual pit lanes located on both sides-a unique feature not commonly found at Indy Car events.
“Three years ago we created Detroit’s first dual pit lane track,” shared Bud Denker, president of Penske Corporation which owns Indy Car. “Drivers were skeptical saying ‘How can this possibly work? It’ll be chaotic.’ But fans loved it.”
“You’ll be only the third venue worldwide with dual pit lanes where drivers can refuel their cars.”
The need to move from Exhibition Place arose due to next year’s World Cup when BMO Field-centrally positioned within Toronto’s fairgrounds-will host six matches during June and July. Additionally, the Toronto Argonauts will spend much time away during most games of their Canadian Football League season.
“The FIFA World Cup was definitely an important reason for our move but not the sole factor,” remarked Jeff Atkinson president of Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham. “Exhibition Place is great but they have significant developments planned ahead.”
“There are many cities eager right now wanting to host an NTT Indy Car Series event. If we took a break from Exhibition Place here in Ontario we might never see this event return again; we didn’t want just another series filled with one-year contracts like before.”
Not all residents from Markham reacted positively toward this announcement.
Comments made by users on Reddit highlighted how Exhibition Place mostly consists of empty parking lots and convention space while proposing site for Markham’s track includes mixed-use areas alongside residential buildings like condos as well as York University’s campus nearby Amica Unionville retirement community.
Some voiced concerns regarding how construction would impact access routes such as those near GO Train station situated along western edge since proposed layout appears set cross through its parking lot too; Kennedy Road-a significant road across York Region-will also run through parts designated under planned course route.
©2025 The Canadian Press
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