For the first time in its history, the Detroit Grand Prix will span two weekends in June 2021.
Belle Isle Park will host the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series on Friday and Saturday, June 4-5, and the NTT IndyCar Series doubleheader Dual in Detroit on Saturday and Sunday, June 12-13.
Race organizers say the consecutive weekend format will bring additional national exposure to the region while visitors to Belle Isle in the spring and early summer will enjoy the same access as they have in previous years.
The revised format for 2021 also will have a positive effect on Belle Isle Park, according to the organizers. The open schedule provides the flexibility to relocate fan engagement areas like car corrals and interactive displays in order to minimize the impact on grassy areas of the island. Downtown Detroit businesses will benefit from the additional weekend of racing, while the region will enjoy the enhanced worldwide television and media coverage generated by the revised 2021 Grand Prix format.
Event organizers will maintain the same amount of reduced time on Belle Isle from previous years – less than 60 days from set up to take down of the premier race venue.
“It was unfortunate that we were not able to host the Detroit Grand Prix in 2020 due to COVID-19, but we are so excited to welcome fans back to Belle Isle in 2021 with not one, but two great weekends of racing and family entertainment,” says Bud Denker, chairman of the Detroit Grand Prix.
“The first weekend in June will be a sports car celebration with the exotic cars of IMSA. We will continue the tradition of the Dual in Detroit IndyCar doubleheader the following weekend as we showcase Belle Isle, along with Detroit and Windsor, to a national audience through back-to-back days of network television coverage.
“While the schedule will expand for next year’s Detroit Grand Prix, it’s important to note that residents who visit Belle Isle Park frequently will have the same access as they have in the past and the event preparation time spent on Belle Isle will remain the same.”
Tickets for the unique two-weekend festival – the 31st Grand Prix event hosted in Detroit – are expected to go on sale early in 2021. Fans will have a wide variety of viewing options under the new format, including single-day or multi-day tickets for either or both race weekends. Ticket packages and pricing will be announced before the end of 2020.
Fans who chose to defer their 2020 Grand Prix tickets to 2021 after this year’s event was postponed will be able to select their viewing options for next summer’s races during a priority seat selection period before tickets go on sale. Fans can register for an early pre-sale opportunity for 2021 Grand Prix tickets now by signing up here.
In Related News: Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn (southeast of Jackson) will host one NASCAR Cup race weekend in 2021, Aug. 20-22. The track in the Irish Hills has hosted two races per season for the last several years.
“While we certainly wish that we were able to host two NASCAR weekends once again, here at MIS we remain committed to providing the same exceptional atmosphere for which our fans have become accustomed from a race weekend in the Irish Hills,” says Rick Brenner, president of MIS. “Our fans have exhibited a tremendous amount of loyalty over the years, and we appreciate their continued support. Michigan International Speedway has a long, rich tradition of providing outstanding racing on the track and unforgettable memories off it. Those are things that will not change.”
The 2021 NASCAR Cup Series schedule revealed Wednesday consists of several changes, including the addition of multiple tracks in new markets, growing the scope of competition in the sport’s premier series. The full 2021 NASCAR schedule can be seen here.
Fans who previously held tickets for the June 2021 NASCAR weekend at MIS will have the opportunity to relocate to comparable seating for the August 2021 race weekend, based on availability. Ticketholders for the June event who have a credit, will be able to use that for the August 2021 date at MIS, or at any other NASCAR-owned track during the 2021 or 2022 season. The MIS team will be contacting customers over the coming weeks to talk through any questions and options.
Tickets for the August 2021 race weekend at MIS are available here. For more information, call 888-905-7223.
