June 9 th to 11 th 2005
7 th edition of the Canadian Grand Prix Festival on Crescent

CRESCENT STREET REVS UP FOR EXCITING GRAND PRIX FESTIVAL
New attractions and displays over two city blocks

Montreal, June 6, 2005 – Crescent Street, the pulse of Montreal when it comes to summer street festivities, is revving up for its seventh annual Crescent Street Grand Prix of Canada Festival, which this year takes place June 9-11. Fresh from last summer’s resoundingly successful event that stretched from Ste. Catherine to Sherbrooke Street and attracted over 400,000 fans, the Crescent Street Merchants’ Association and promoter Brian Fogt of BBF Promotions & Events will again be transforming this area into one of the world’s largest Formula One celebrations.

Presented by Budweiser and sponsored by Honda, Crescent Street will be playing host to an exciting array of activities during this three-day celebration. The events include six electrifying concerts on the Budweiser stage, the Honda/Michelin Pit Stop Challenge open to the public in the Honda Zone and question and answer sessions with Honda/Michelin drivers.

Winner of six World Championships since its entry in Formula One in 1964 and major contributor to the success of the Crescent Street Festival over the last six years, Honda is returning with its exciting Honda Zone featuring the Canadian debut of the 2006 Honda Civic Coupe SI Concept car, along with the B.A.R. Honda F1 car and other Honda race cars and motorcycles.

The adrenaline rush will begin for the thousands of spectators on Thursday, June 9, at 11:50 a.m. with the opening ceremonies, held as per tradition, on the street’s main stage, corner of de Maisonneuve. The afternoon activities will see celebrities, Honda/Michelin drivers and the media clash in three hotly contested Honda/Michelin Pit Stop Competitions, along with a DJ Daniel Desnoyers performance presented by CKOI. Capping off the day are two concerts on the Budweiser stage, with Canadian groups GCR at 7:00 p.m. and Joshua with a tribute to U2 at 9:00 p.m.

One of this year’s features in the expanded area from de Maisonneuve to Sherbrooke Street known as the Pit Lane is the boxing ring set up for pugilists from Groupe Yvon Michel and their “Fast & Furious” show, a public boxing training and autograph session presented by GYM and BBF on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The Pit Lane, powered by GT4, will also host a spectacular display of modified cars, along with race simulators and numerous racing-related booths.

Again this year, Crescent Street visitors will have the opportunity to follow both Formula 1 practice and qualifying live from Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on two giant video walls thanks to a feed provided by Speed Channel.

“We are delighted to be at the hub of off-track activities and contributing to the dynamic spirit of the city during Grand Prix weekend,” said Bernard Ragueneau, president of the Crescent Street Merchants Association. “The Crescent Street merchants know how much Montrealers and visitors to the city from every corner of the globe enjoy the ambiance and atmosphere surrounding the Grand Prix, so this is our opportunity to give them a taste of it in our bars, restaurants and retail stores.”

Brian Fogt, the event’s creator and promoter, said the rising popularity of the Grand Prix Festival on Crescent Street since its inception in 1999, underscores the Festival’s status as the “in” place to be during Grand Prix weekend.

To that effect, the Festival will be welcoming new sponsors this year with the arrival of the Casino de Montréal, an official sponsor of the Grand Prix of Canada, and Base energy drink. Western Union, a valued sponsor since 2004, returns this year as it expands on its growing partnership with the Festival.

“In the summer months, Montreal is known worldwide as the city of festivals, and the three-day events on Crescent Street are regarded in many circles as the engine-starter to the summer season and outdoor entertainment,” commented Brian Fogt. “It’s an opportunity to celebrate the return of the world’s greatest racing series and just be able to go out, join the crowd and have some fun over a two-block stretch of the downtown core.”

B.A.R. Honda drivers, along with special guests and event partners, are set to get the Crescent Street Grand Prix of Canada Festival underway at 11:50 on Thursday morning, June 9. The Festival will open at 11:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and wrap up all three nights at 11:00 p.m. As in the past six years, racing items and T-shirts will also be on sale during the Festival, including B.A.R. Honda merchandise and other F1 gear.

Montrealers and festival-goers can check the detailed schedule of events and more by going online at www.montrealnow.com.