Canadian Tire announces major sponsorship of Honda Indy Toronto

TORONTO, ON - Honda Indy Toronto welcomes an important new member to its growing list of official sponsors for the 2010 race: Canadian Tire. The announcement, which is part of a broad-reaching Canadian Tire motorsports program, marks the first time the general merchandise retail leader will sponsor the Toronto race. 

PHOTO: NASCAR Canadian Tire Series driver Scott Steckly (right) with his crew (back) and (l to r) Richard Coughlin (NASCAR Canada), Allan MacDonald (Sr. VP, Automotive Canadian Tire) and Charlie Johnstone (VP and GM Honda Indy Toronto) announce Canadian Tire's expanded involvement at the Honda Indy Toronto, the Honda Indy Edmonton and sponsorship of Canadian racing legend Ron Fellows in August's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. (Photo: G. MacPherson / Inside Track Motorsport News)

“With Canadian Tire’s legacy of bringing the excitement of professional auto racing to Canadian fans, establishing a close partnership with Honda Indy Toronto makes perfect sense,” said Allan MacDonald, Senior Vice President, Automotive at Canadian Tire. “As Canada’s largest automotive retailer, with an unmatched assortment of auto parts and accessories, we are excited to join forces with one of North America’s best street races and Ontario’s largest annual sporting event.”

Canadian Tire will be sponsoring various onsite activities and programs. The company will have naming and branding rights to pit row and the support series paddock, and will provide apparel to more than 500 event volunteers through its Mark’s division. Canadian Tire will also add a touch of quality living to the corporate hospitality area at the race site through an outdoor lounge and green spaces at the hospitality suites. The retailer will also create a large interactive display in the popular Thunder Alley.

“Partnering with Canadian Tire has been among our primary aspirations since bringing the Indy back to Toronto,” said Charlie Johnstone, Vice President and General Manager, Honda Indy Toronto. “Their presence at this year’s race will have a direct impact on the experience our fans, visitors and other partners will enjoy at the track.”

To learn more about what’s happening track-side at the Honda Indy Toronto visit: www.hondaindytoronto.com.

About Canadian Tire Corporation Ltd.: Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX: CTC.a, CTC), is one of Canada’s most shopped general retailers with 480 Canadian Tire stores across the country. Our core retail and automotive operation is strengthened by PartSource, an automotive parts specialty chain; Canadian Tire Petroleum, one of the country’s largest independent retailers of gasoline; Mark’s “Clothes That Work,” a leading retailer of men’s, women’s and work apparel; and, Canadian Tire Financial Services, which has issued over five million Canadian Tire MasterCard credit cards. More than 58,000 Canadians work across Canadian Tire’s organization from coast-to-coast in the enterprise’s retail, financial services and petroleum businesses.

About Honda Indy Toronto: The Honda Indy Toronto, Ontario’s largest annual sporting event, takes place from July 16 to 18 on the streets surrounding Exhibition Place near Lake Ontario and downtown Toronto.  With more than two decades of open wheel racing history in Toronto, the Honda Indy Toronto is among the most respected motorsports events in North America and features a festival-like atmosphere that includes the fastest racing series on the planet, celebrity athletes and three action-packed days of live entertainment and interactive activities. For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.HondaIndyToronto.com  or call 877.503.6869.

From Honda Indy Toronto // Kathleen Stelmach // Torchia Comm.