The work to completely overhaul the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve – home of the Canadian Grand Prix – pitlane is well underway, which is part of a deal to keep Formula 1 at the circuit until 2029.
This week the old pit structure, which has been in place since 1988, has been completely demolished and cleared away, ready for the foundations of the new structure (see last photo) to be installed.
The contractors are working to a tight deadline to have the basic structure in place before winter, allowing the interior fit out and final sign off ahead of the 2019 race, with an expected completion date of late-April.
The project has been publicly financed with a total of C$48 million, C$30 million of which will come from the City of Montréal and C$18 million from the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Occupation du territoire (MAMOT).
The new building will be able to accomodate 5,000 people, up from 1,800, whilst also relocating commentary boxes, which were previously located at the final corner in a dated structure.