DETROIT – Detroit Grand Prix organizers confirmed Wednesday morning that they are exploring the possibility of moving the event from the Belle Isle Park circuit to a location in downtown Detroit.
The race will take place at the Belle Isle location next season, but event organizers have begun the process of exploring their options for a downtown location beginning with the 2023 event.Â
“While we have the option of extending the current agreement with the State of Michigan to host the Grand Prix on Belle Isle through 2024, we are exploring the option of returning the event to a downtown street circuit beginning in 2023,” event organizers said in a statement. “The Grand Prix began as a downtown event, hosted on the streets of Detroit from 1982-91, before making the transition to Belle Isle.
“An annual summertime racing festival on the streets of Detroit would represent a connection to the rich heritage of the Grand Prix, the opportunity to engage with broad audiences and provide an even greater boost to the local economy while adding to the energy and momentum that is building and along our beautiful waterfront.”
The Detroit Grand Prix started as a Formula 1 event before becoming an Indy car race in 1989. It moved to Belle Isle in 1992, which is where ever subsequent running of the race has been held.
The event was scrapped after the 2001 season before returning for the 2007 and ’08 seasons. The Detroit Grand Prix was left off the schedule from 2009 through ’11 before returning again in 2012. The race has been a doubleheader since the 2013 running of the event, with races held on Saturday and Sunday of the Grand Prix weekend. It will return to a single race format beginning in 2022.