Drag strip roars into Mirabel

[jay2puff]

Drag strip roars into Mirabel

Investors Pony Up $10 Million. Motorsport centre also is to feature 3.8-kilometre road course and karting track

MIRABEL - More than jet engines will be roaring at Mirabel Airport come May.

Cars will be racing down a drag strip in close proximity to planes using runways as part of a state-of-the-art motorsport complex being built on 42 hectares of property at the airfield.

A group of private Quebec investors has put up about $10 million to develop International Centre of Advanced Racing Inc., ICAR president Frederic Senay told about 150 invited guests at a sneak peek yesterday.

"We're on schedule to open in spring next year, and put simply, we'll be offering ICAR's users a unique facility in the region," Senay said.

"From Day 1, we've wanted to redefine what we could offer the automotive and motorsport industries and I believe we're on track to meet that objective," he said.

Close to $3 million has been spent since August on the facility that will feature a nearly one-kilometre drag strip, a Federation Internationale de l'Automobile design-approved 3.8-kilometre road course, with nearly 130 potential configurations, and a high-performance karting track that is more than one kilometre long.

Senay said a new ICAR Club that will allow members 150 days of exclusive track time a year as well as VIP access to events held on-site, with full use of the lounge and restaurant in the complex pavilion.

But membership doesn't come cheap - $35,000, plus annual user fees of $6,000 and another $2,000 for a bar and food tab.

One hundred individuals and corporations have already expressed interest in joining the club through word of mouth, he said, adding there will be a membership cap of 300.

The club and the ICAR Academy, which will help ensure the future of motorsport by initiating a trainee and sport-study program for young drivers while offering advanced driving lessons, will generate revenue, as will renting out the facilities to auto manufacturers and dealers to present and road test their products.

Jean Teasdale, vice-president of real estate and commercial services for Aeroports de Montreal, called the 25-year lease with ICAR "a positive new phase for Mirabel.

"ICAR's strategy for the revitalization of the Montreal-Mirabel Airport complex shares our vision for the development of the site and we couldn't be more excited to have found partners with such a dynamic, class-leading business model," Teasdale added.

Mirabel Mayor Hubert Meilleur expressed optimism the project will contribute to making the airport "a good destination site" that complements both the Laurentians and Montreal.

Meilleur and Teasdale both insisted another major airport project is still alive.

They said the AeroDream (Reveport) all-season, indoor theme park - complete with giant aquarium, beach, spa, theatres, discos, exhibition hall, restaurants, fitness centre and shops - is proceeding and is expected to open next year.

Sources:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=60dbdc02-cb55-40a5-9342-15ac24898f1a&k=26872

[jay2puff]

heres another link how its going to look


http://www.flagworld.auto123.com/en/racing/news/photos,photogal.spy?artid=91100