The United States Grand Prix round part of Detroit described as Downton has now been held successfully for seven years, but if all goes according to plan this year’s race was the last to be held on the city streets. It is proposed to build a permanent circuit on an island in the Detroit river, in the way the Canadians have built their circuit on the island in the St Lawrence river near Montreal. If this idea catches on we might see a London Grand Prix on the Isle of Dogs in the Thames!
The Detroit river island is called Belle Isle, reached by a five-lane bridge from the mainland or a 15-minute boat ride from Detroit Downtown river-front. Reception of the news the day before the seventh Downtown Grand Prix was mixed: drivers, mechanics and race-workers welcomed the idea, glad to see the back of the shambolic temporary arrangement of the present circuit, but public reaction was opposed, the feeling being that the party atmosphere that surrounds the present circuit would be missing. Nature lovers were loud in their complaints because the noise might frighten the herd of deer that lives on the island!
However, to the last of the Detroit street races. Once again it was all about Ayrton Senna, McLaren cars, turbocharged Honda engines and total domination by the McLaren International team. There is not much point in talking about the opposition, because it doesn’t exist.
Country
United States
Location
Detroit, Michigan
Type
Temporary street circuit
Length
2.5 (Miles)
Record
Ayrton Senna (Lotus 99T-Honda), 1m40.464, 89.584 mph, F1, 1987
