BOWMANVILLE, ON – Motorsport legend Bobby Unser has been named as Grand Marshal of Canada’s biggest sports car race of the year, the Mobil 1 presents The Grand Prix of Mosport, August 26-29.
Bobby, the older of the two famous racing brothers (along with Al, Sr.), established the family name many years ago by winning three Indy 500 titles, in 1968, 1975 and 1981. Unser’s first career IndyCar victories came at Mosport when in 1967 he took the chequered flag in both the twin 100 mile races.
“Mosport will always have a special place in my heart. The 1967 Mosport IndyCar race became one of the most important events in my whole life because it was my first IndyCar win. So it’s a real honour to be the Grand Marshal of the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport and to help the track celebrate their 50th anniversary season,” said Unser.
Unser will be at the famed 4-km road course throughout the race weekend, meeting fans and signing autographs. He will give the famous four-word command to the drivers of the American Le Mans Series on Sunday afternoon at 3 pm, just prior to the green flag drop to start the two hour, 45 minute race.
The Albuquerque, New Mexico resident has compiled a extensive list of impressive accomplishments during his long and storied racing career, including 35 IndyCar wins (4th all-time), 49 IndyCar pole positions (3rd all-time), eight 500-mile IndyCar wins, two International Race of Champions (IROC) wins and a record of 13 Pikes Peak Hill Climb wins, just to name a few. He has been inducted into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame, the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
“When I was young I was best known as a midget and sprint car driver, mostly on dirt tracks all over the USA,” he recalled. “But I really loved road racing as in the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which I won 13 times. My first big career win was at Mosport, one of the most challenging road racing circuits in the world and I’m very proud of that."
The father of four has also served as one of the sport’s premier analysts and colour commentators. Unser worked as ABC Television's chief analyst on the network's Indy 500 telecasts, and partnered with Brian Williams on CBC Sports’ of the Molson Indy races in Toronto and Vancouver in the 1980s and ‘90s.
Schedules for autograph sessions will be posted on Mosport’s website and at the track For more event information and to purchase tickets call the Mosport Hotline at 1-800-866-1072 or online at www.mosport.com, or email info@mosport.com.
For further information: Ryan Chalmers, Mosport ryan@mosport.com
