GT Race Experience Shannonville

GT Race Experience puts you behind the wheel of a track prepared car on the 4.03 km Long Track at Shannonville Motorsport Park, the road course built in 1974 east of Belleville in eastern Ontario. A professional coach sits in the passenger seat for every lap and talks you through the racing line, and there is no lead car: you drive at your own pace.

The fleet is three sports cars with upgraded suspension and brakes on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres: a manual 2017 Ford Mustang GT, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS and a 2012 Nissan 370Z, the last two automatics with paddle shifters. Packages run from a 6 minute drive to 20 minutes on track, and a passenger Hot Lap puts you beside a coach while they drive.

The same team runs open track days for people who bring their own car, a Novice Academy for drivers new to the track, the GT Race Challenge Series, a Winter Driving School from January to March and a marketplace for renting track cars.

• The cars: a 2017 Ford Mustang GT Performance Package 1 with a 5.0 litre V8 and a manual gearbox, a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS with a 6.2 litre V8 of about 425 hp, and a 2012 Nissan 370Z Touring with a 3.7 litre V6 of about 350 hp. All three are rear wheel drive.

• The day opens in the classroom with the basics of high performance driving: the racing line, cornering and braking. Then you ride a Hot Lap in the passenger seat to learn the car and the track before you take the wheel.

• Your coach is in the car with you the whole time and talks to you through the intercom built into your helmet. Nobody leads you around, so the pace is yours.

• One lap of the Long Track is 4.03 km and takes about 2.5 minutes. It has 14 corners, fast and slow, with good sight lines and large run off areas.

• The 2 Car Ignition package puts you in two different cars back to back.

• On the open track days you drive your own car in a novice, intermediate or advanced run group, with seven 20 minute sessions across the day, about 2 hours 20 minutes of seat time. Novices get a classroom session while the advanced group runs first.

• Bringing friends or family? Spectators are welcome to come and watch the driving experience and the track days.

• Best way to experience it: a package with the Hot Lap so you see the line before you drive it, the in car video to take the laps home, and friends along to watch.

• Driving experience packages, 2026 season prices plus HST, each with 1 Hot Lap as a passenger: Ignition, 6 minutes driving, CA$299. Adrenalin, 12 minutes, CA$549. 2 Car Ignition, 6 minutes in each of two cars, CA$549. Apex, 20 minutes, CA$849. The Hot Lap on its own is CA$199. Every package includes the classroom session, helmet, use of the car, track access and the in car coach.

• Add ons: in car video with two camera angles, G meter, speedometer, track map and lap timer, CA$70. Extra lap of 4.03 km, CA$100. Damage coverage with decline, basic and premium options, priced by package. Taking the Hot Lap out of a package saves CA$50.

• The 2026 season has finished and the 2027 driving experience dates are not posted yet. Bookings go through Bookeo on gtrace.ca. Dates depend on the track's own calendar and can change, so call 613-985-7223 or email info@gtrace.ca to confirm before heading out.

• Drivers need a current provincial or state driver's licence. No deposit is taken.

• The Mustang GT is manual only, and GT Race cannot take drivers with no previous manual experience in it. The Camaro SS and 370Z are automatics.

• The seats fit a waist of up to 42 inches and a height of 5 ft 2 in to 6 ft 4 in, drivers and passengers alike. Driving is not suitable during pregnancy, and anyone with a health concern about high speed and strong G forces is asked to get medical advice and tell GT Race first.

• What to wear: running shoes or other closed shoes (no heels, sandals or open toes), comfortable pants and a cotton top. GT Race supplies a race suit that fits over most clothes but not over dresses, skirts or bulky layers, and a helmet with its intercom. Personal helmets are not allowed. Glasses are fine, ideally soft framed and close fitting. There are no secure lockers at the track.

• Rules: a 0.00% blood alcohol level, no alcohol or drugs at the track, and pets stay at home.

• Sessions run in the rain. Fog, heavy rain, snow or ice can delay or stop the day, and a drive postponed for weather is rebooked without penalty.

• The classroom starts 15 minutes after your registration time. Late arrivals are fitted in where possible, sometimes in a different car or a later slot. A missed booking forfeits 100% of the payment.

• Cancelling or rebooking costs 5% of the package within 7 days of purchase and 15% after 8 days. The policy then sets 25% within 14 days from booking, rebooking only at 25% within 7 days from booking, and no refund or rebooking 24 hours from booking. Requests go by email to info@gtrace.ca.

• Gift vouchers are sold online and arrive as a code by email with a print at home voucher. They are valid for 2 years and keep their dollar value after that, cover the driving experience and the Winter Driving School, and are refundable within 14 days of purchase less a CA$50 fee.

• Own car track days (2026 prices, plus HST): CA$250 for a full day booked 11 or more days ahead, CA$290 within 10 days, CA$330 on the day, CA$140 for the morning half day (3 sessions) and CA$190 for the afternoon half day (4 sessions). Registration is on MotorsportReg. The gate opens at 7:30 am, the drivers meeting is at 8:30 am and track time ends at 4:30 pm. A Snell SA2010 or Snell M helmet is required (Snell M with a balaclava), and helmets can be rented. Drivers under 18 years of age need signed parental consent. Trucks, SUVs and open wheel single seaters are not allowed, and convertibles run roof up. Lunch is not included. Fees are non refundable, with a credit to another date in the same calendar year when you give at least 4 days notice.

• Novice Academy with a GT Race car: a morning at a track day, 8:30 am to 12:00 pm, with three 20 minute sessions, the car, fuel, helmet and a private instructor. CA$829 plus HST in the 370Z or Camaro SS, CA$849 in the Mustang GT. Insurance is not available on these rentals.

• Winter Driving School in your own car, 2027 Saturdays, weather permitting. Shannonville runs on the paved skid pad on 9 January, 30 January, 20 February and 6 March. Ottawa, at 1299 River Road, Manotick, runs on an ice and snow track in a field on 16 and 23 January, 6, 13 and 27 February and 13 March. The full day is 8:30 am to 4:00 pm for CA$495 plus HST, the morning half day is CA$295. Groups of 10 or more can ask for a private day.

• Track car rentals for lapping days, at Shannonville and Calabogie Motorsports Park, start from CA$480 plus HST. Owners set their own terms, a CA$5,000 credit card hold or CA$300 insurance applies, and event registration is not included except on GT Race's own cars.

• GT Race Challenge Series races are CA$266 plus HST each, for advanced drivers signed off by the organisers, with a transponder rental of CA$60 and a CA$240 deposit.

• Private track days, evening events and corporate days are arranged by email to info@gtrace.ca.

• Watching is free for spectators. The meeting point is Shannonville Motorsport Park, 7047 Old Highway 2, Shannonville.

Last verified: 5 November 2026

Official link: https://www.gtrace.ca/racetrackdrivingexperience