Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, June 5, 2016. (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, June 5, 2016. (Photo by Adelle Loiselle)
Windsor

Detroit Grand Prix to return downtown in 2023

The roar of race cars will once again echo off of Detroit's downtown skyscrapers in two years.

The Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix announced Wednesday afternoon that the IndyCar race will move from its current home on Belle Isle back to downtown Detroit in 2023. The race had been run downtown from 1982 to 1988 as part of the Formula One circuit.

An image of the Detroit Grand Prix Formula One race, as it was run in downtown Detroit during the 1980s. Photo by Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. An image of the Detroit Grand Prix Formula One race, as it was run in downtown Detroit during the 1980s. Photo by Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix.

Detroit City Council signed off on the move Wednesday.

"Over the last five weeks, Grand Prix representatives have participated in numerous listening sessions and information-sharing meetings with Detroit residents, business leaders, community groups and individual district representatives on the idea of returning the race to its roots on the streets of Detroit," read a statement posted on the race's official website. "The positive reaction and the excitement that we have seen from the community about the Grand Prix coming back downtown reinforces our belief that this relocation will provide a significant benefit to the City, its residents and our local businesses for the future."

Race organizers had the option of keeping the race on Belle Isle through 2024, but there is the confidence that the event will help boost the region's economy even further. The City of Windsor has served as a sponsor of the race.

A poll from WindsorNewsToday.ca in late September asked listeners if they'd be open to moving the race back to downtown Detroit. From those who responded, 73 per cent said yes, while 27 per cent suggested keeping the race on Belle Isle.

The final Detroit Grand Prix on the island state park will take place from June 3 to June 5, 2022.

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