CLARINGTON, ON – On Thursday, May 2, the NASCAR Canada Series hosted a test day at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park Grand Prix Circuit. The track will be the site of the tour’s season-opening event on the Victoria Day long weekend. Howard Cohen attended the event and supplied the following report and gallery.
Howard Cohen:
If you have never been to a test day, it is different than a timing or practice session day.
On a test day, each team will fire up their cars, check its operation, driver seating and a few other things they don’t talk about (yes, they keep secrets).
As a photographer, I’ve been asked by some teams not to take photographs of engine compartments, suspensions or brakes for fear their opponents will see something special. And I always comply.
On test days, not all the cars have their graphics packages installed as they wait for testing to be finished.
Yesterday at CTMP, the morning was spent in the paddock area, unloading the cars and equipment. From there, the cars were taken to the inspection line to check for safety components, and to make sure the new and existing rules have been followed correctly.
After lunch, the cars took to the track and started lapping CTMP’s legendary Grand Prix circuit.
The main goal, of most, was to check the engine response, suspensions, steering, tires, brakes, aero packages, making adjustments and watching the other teams to see if they can spot an advantage.
Being at CTMP when there are no spectators and only a few photographers is a little different. No one is watching, no one is cheering on their favourite driver, nobody is leaning on the fences or standing on the bridges, there are no line-ups at the food stands or washrooms or souvenirs stands. It is VERY quiet until the teams leave the paddock.
But then the engines rev up and the sound echoes across the property, filling the grounds.
Underway, they accelerate out of Pit Lane and head out onto the track, engines blaring their throaty sounds. And after a long, quiet winter, it all makes my ears perk up and sets my mind racing about what is to come.
Racing season is just a few weeks away and test day has me ready for the green flag. I can’t wait!
