2007 CANADIAN GRAND PRIX
MONTREAL - PREVIEW
The Honda Racing F1 Team heads to the lively city of Montreal
this week for the Canadian Grand Prix, the first of the two
North American races, with the United States Grand Prix at
the Indianapolis Motor Speedway following just one week later.
Honda Canada is once again a major sponsor of the Canadian
Grand Prix and will have a significant presence over the race
weekend with activities at Crescent Street in downtown Montreal
and at Honda World, a spectacular circuit-based exhibition
designed to bring race fans closer to Honda's innovations
in the environment, safety and technology.
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO - Senior Technical Director
"We are pleased that the RA107 is continuing to show
positive signs as a result of all the team's hard work. At
the last race in Monaco, the drivers were able to appreciate
the improvements and take the most performance possible out
of the car. However the next race in Canada is a completely
different challenge and downforce levels are very different,
so we have to set the car up to suit the specific demands
of this track. At the Paul Ricard test, we found a good set-up
on the Montreal configured circuit, which we hope will translate
well to the race weekend. We are continuing to develop the
car, not only in terms of new aero parts but also mechanical
improvements. Although we have not had the opportunity to
test since Monaco, we will keep pushing as hard as possible
for the North American races."
JENSON BUTTON
"The Canadian Grand Prix is one of my favourite races
on the F1 calendar. Montreal is a fantastic city and the atmosphere
over the race weekend is amazing. The Canadians are huge Formula
One fans and Montreal puts on a terrific street parade. The
key to a quick lap around the circuit is being able to ride
the kerbs and you need to have a car which can do this comfortably.
You have to be precise because if you hit the kerbs in the
wrong place, then you'll probably end up in the wall. The
biggest challenge is getting the last chicane before the pits
just right. You can have a perfect lap all the way round but
if you hit those kerbs badly, it will throw you off. Getting
off the grid cleanly is also important as the first couple
of corners are very tight with all 22 cars trying to squeeze
through, although you can overtake here if the opportunity
presents itself. The hairpin at turn ten is probably the best
opportunity for overtaking and where you can see some pretty
exciting racing."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"Montreal is a great circuit and I really enjoy racing
there. The track is quite challenging with long straights
and hard-braking corners, so it is completely different from
the last race in Monaco. We will set the car up with a medium-low
downforce level to maximise the long straights. We prepared
well for this event at the Paul Ricard test a few weeks ago
and the critical thing for the team will be to make sure that
we get the very best out of the performance that we have available."
CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE, MONTREAL
No of Laps 70 laps
Circuit Length 4.361 km
Race Distance 305.270 km
The Canadian Grand Prix is run on a temporary circuit situated
on Île Notre-Dame which is a man-made island in the
middle of the St Lawrence Seaway, close to central Montreal.
Set among lakes and parkland pavilions used in the 1967 Expo,
and alongside the 1976 Olympic Games rowing basin, this unusual
track has frequently been the scene of high drama. The start
of the race is often incident-packed, but generally drivers
enjoy the track, which gives reasonable overtaking opportunities
and requires medium levels of downforce. It is unlikely that
the hard-working Formula One teams share their driver's enthusiasm.
With so many fast blasts, slow chicanes and hairpins, the
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has a reputation for being a real
car-breaker.
HONDA IN CANADA
· Honda has been operating in Canada for 38 years
· Over 21,000 people work in manufacturing, sales and
dealerships across the country
· Honda automobile sales in 2006 were 165,985 units
· The assembly plant in Ontario produces Civic Coupe,
Sedan & Si Coupe, Honda Ridgeline and Acura CSX &
MDX
· Honda is a major sponsor of the 2007 Canadian Grand
Prix
· Honda World, a spectacular exhibit designed to bring
fans closer to Honda, will be open over the race weekend
· ASIMO, the world's most advanced humanoid robot,
makes its F1 debut at the Canadian Grand Prix
· Honda is also a major sponsor of the 9th Annual Crescent
Street Festival in downtown Montreal
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