F1 - BRP Selected To Create Trophies For The Grand Prix du Canada

Valcourt, April 19, 2011: Employees from BRP's Design & Innovation team have been selected to create the trophies for the 2011 edition of the Formula One (F1) Grand Prix du Canada.

"We approached BRP for this unique opportunity because of their reputation for excellence in design and creativity," said François Dumontier, president of Octane Racing Group Inc, promoter of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. "We knew they would rise to the challenge and we wanted to show what the best powersports designers in Canada could do for the only North American stop on the F1 circuit."

Imagining the recreational vehicles of the future is one of the mandates of BRP's design and innovation team; designing the next set of trophies for the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada is not. So when BRP's Denys Lapointe, executive vice-president of Design & Innovation, accepted this challenge, he presented the opportunity to his team as an optional friendly competition, knowing his team to be passionate about high performance race cars. Proposals would be evaluated on their originality, design quality, feasibility and symbolism with F1 racing.

"You know it is a one-of-a-kind opportunity when half of your designers, grouped into six teams, jump at the opportunity to showcase their talent on top of an already full schedule," said Denys Lapointe. "Our staff is passionate about design, especially when it relates to powersports. So, when they had the opportunity to contribute creatively to the Grand Prix du Canada, they were all over it."

A jury comprised of François Dumontier, other representatives from Octane Racing Group and BRP selected two of the six concepts generated by the BRP design teams. They were sent to Formula One Management, for final approval. The chosen concept will be revealed during a press conference at the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada this coming June.

BRP's design group has garnered more than 30 international design awards such as IDEAs, Good Designs, IFs and red dots. The team consists of a talented group of 60 individuals from a variety of disciplines including: product and transportation design, engineering, human factors, as well as technical staff. More recently, it was awarded two 2011 red dot awards for high design quality in the product design category.