• by Tanya Gazdik , Staff Writer, June 6, 2022

Sunday marked the last time the Detroit Grand Prix will be held on Belle Isle.

More than 100,000 spectators came out to watch the series of races over three days on the 2.5-mile-long, 982-acre park, which is owned by the city of Detroit but managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

It was designed in the 1880s in part by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same landscape architect who was involved in the creation of Central Park. 

The event is moving back to the streets of downtown Detroit, which is where it got its start in 1982 before moving to the island in 1991.

There are 12 cities in the world that have downtown racing, and Detroit will once again be among them. That’s both a blessing and a curse, depending on who you ask.

While critics worried the race would disturb the flora and fauna, the event resulted in a much-needed cash infusion into Belle Isle's infrastructure. Race sponsors invested $750,000 into one of the island’s historic fountains for initial restoration in 2007 and replacement of stolen parts in 2008. Race officials have committed to continuing fountain maintenance despite vacating Belle Isle, according to the Detroit Free Press. 

But the bigger question is, do consumers make the connection between racing teams and the car they might aspire to purchase? Does having a good racing team mean a company’s vehicles are well designed?

The Grand Prix initially included Formula One for six years before transitioning to Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) racing. Over the years, it has included the American Le Mans Series, The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, the Indycar Series and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) Chevrolet Sports Car Classic.

As a young adult, I remember my autoworker father being very impressed with having racing legends like Michael Andretti and Emerson Fittipaldi in our midst. However, it wasn’t enough to motivate him to leave his TV set and go downtown to watch the races in person.

Still, clearly he appreciated a well-tuned engine, which is how I ended up driving a Pontiac Firebird for a stretch. 

Ford Motor Co. used to brag that Ford was an acronym for “First on Race Day,” and auto dealers subscribed to the expression “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday.” 

But like most event/sponsorship marketing, today it is probably more of a subtle halo effect. What brand doesn’t want to have its name associated with “winners"?

That’s likely what motivated Lexus, Honda, BMW and Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Racing to put out press releases and write blog posts touting their finishes in Detroit. Meanwhile, Aston Martin shared its plans on this weekend’s 90th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Dodge touted its top finish in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) New England Nationals.

Foresight Research’s 2020 Motorsports Immersion Report, which used data from 5,000 recent new non-fleet vehicle purchases, found that motorsports influences car and truck buyer throughout the purchase process. The Rochester, Michigan-based company called racing a “significant catalyst for downstream word of mouth and brand advocacy.”

Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst, S&P Global Mobility, agrees. She told the Associated Press last year that automakers get multiple benefits from their racing programs. Consumers like to cheer for their brands, and that translates to loyalty when it comes time to buy a new vehicle, she says. 

“It helps build an emotional connection,” Brinley told the AP. “That’s really elusive, but it’s also pretty key toward keeping and maintaining brand loyalty.”