What to know
- The Honda Indy is moving to Markham for the first time after nearly a decade at Exhibition Place.
- The three-day event runs from August 14 to 16, with the main IndyCar race scheduled for Sunday at 12:22 p.m.
- The temporary 3.52-kilometre circuit features 12 turns and is located near Unionville GO Station.
- Fans can take GO Transit or drive via Highway 407, but several roads around the circuit will be closed or affected.
The Honda Indy is moving north of Toronto for the first time this weekend, bringing high-speed racing to the streets of Markham after nearly a decade at Exhibition Place.
The Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham runs from Friday, August 14 to Sunday, August 16, marking the first year of the event’s new home. The race is set to return to Markham for five years under the current agreement.
If you’re planning to check it out, here’s what you need to know.
Where is it?
The temporary street circuit is in Markham Centre, between Kennedy Road, Enterprise Boulevard, the Unionville GO tracks and Highway 407.
The new track is 3.52 kilometres long and features 12 turns, including straightaways and technically challenging sections.
The move marks a major change for the event, which has long been associated with Toronto’s Exhibition Place and streets around the Canadian National Exhibition grounds.
Markham’s new circuit gives IndyCar drivers an entirely new challenge, meaning unlike returning street races, teams won’t have years of race data from the track to rely on.
When is the race?
The weekend features several racing series, with the NTT INDYCAR SERIES headlining the event alongside NASCAR Canada, USF Pro 2000, USF2000 and Radical Cup Canada.
Friday, August 14
Gates open at 8:30 a.m., with practice and qualifying throughout the day.
- 9 a.m. – USF2000 practice
- 10 a.m. – USF Pro 2000 practice
- 11 a.m. – Radical Cup Canada practice
- Noon – USF2000 qualifying
- 12:30 p.m. – IndyCar autograph session
- 3:05 p.m. – IndyCar Practice 1
- 5 p.m. – NASCAR Canada practice and qualifying
- 6:30 p.m. – The Children’s Breakfast Clubs Ride the Track charity cycling event
Saturday, August 15
Gates open at 8:30 a.m., followed by more racing and IndyCar qualifying.
- 8:50 a.m. – USF2000 Race 1
- 10:05 a.m. – IndyCar Practice 2
- 11:55 a.m. – Radical Cup Canada Race 1
- 1:05 p.m. – USF Pro 2000 Race 1
- 2:25 p.m. – IndyCar qualifying
- 4:45 p.m. – NASCAR Canada race
- Around 6:20 p.m. – The Glorious Sons live in concert
Sunday, August 16
Gates open at 8 a.m., with the main event getting underway shortly after noon.
- 8:40 a.m. – IndyCar warmup
- 9:25 a.m. – USF2000 Race 2
- 10:25 a.m. – USF Pro 2000 Race 2
- 11:30 a.m. – IndyCar driver introductions
- 12:22 p.m. – Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, 90 laps
- 3 p.m. – Radical Cup Canada Race 2
How to get there
GO Transit is one of the easiest ways to reach the event. The race grounds are located at Unionville GO Station, which is served by the Stouffville GO line.
If you’re driving, organizers recommend using Highway 407 ETR, exiting at Warden Avenue and continuing north toward Enterprise Boulevard.
Drivers should expect traffic impacts around the circuit throughout the weekend.
Road closures
Because the race is taking place on a temporary street circuit, several roads will be closed during the event, including Enterprise Boulevard East, University Boulevard, YMCA Boulevard and Kennedy Road South between Unionville Gate and YMCA Boulevard.
The City of Markham is also warning that increased event setup could affect access to Unionville GO and its parking lot. The main parking lot is open, while the east overflow lot remains closed.
This weekend isn’t expected to be a one-off for Markham. Under the current agreement, the city is set to host the event for five years, making the new street circuit the Honda Indy’s home through 2030.
