By Adriana Ermter
If you’re like us, you fantasize about driving a souped-up race car along the open road, pedal to the metal without a traffic light or stop sign in sight. Well, the Policaro Group is turning that dream into a reality. Renowned for their exquisite luxury vehicles and top-notch customer service, the premium auto- motive retail group has partnered with Oro Station to create an exhilarating experience at the up-and-coming, innovative Oro Station Motor Circuit Park.
Launching in 2023, the Oro-Medonte, Ont.-based park will be accessible to all car lovers, making it a hotspot for enthusiasts, racers, innovators and any- one who’s ever wanted to drive on a race-car track. Along with providing the racing experience, the park will feature 500,000 square feet of industrial space dedicated to automotive research, engineering, education and development; a 4.1-kilometre motor circuit with dynamic driving areas; and the Policaro Group Motorsport Headquarters clubhouse for patrons. This much-anticipated two-storey clubhouse will serve multiple purposes. It will be a home away from home for the Group’s eponymous professional racing team, host racing customers, hold entertainment events and act as a hub for professional and amateur speedsters to talk shop and swap stories.
“We want to share the thrill of racing with clients and motorsport enthusiasts across the province,” affirms Francesco Policaro, the CEO of the Policaro Group. “The clubhouse will be the Policaro Group’s professional motorsport destination. From full-performance services to watching our brands full-throttle on the track, it will demonstrate the heart of the Policaro Group.”
This heartfelt service is attributed to the Policaro Group’s dedi- cation to the industry and to their clients and has been synonymous with the brand for more than four decades.
Their love affair with the car industry started in the 1960s, shortly after Francesco’s father, Basil, and his siblings,Paul and Tony,emigrated from Southern Italy to Canada with their parents.
Drawn to the automotive world, in 1979, the brothers opened Satellite City Honda, the family’s first franchise store. By 1983, they’d added a second franchise to their roster, Brampton Hyundai, and the brothers were making a name for themselves by redefining the automotive experience with their customer-first approach to business.
Fast-forward 40-plus years and multiple automotive locations, these family-friendly services have expanded from being one of the first to offer complimentary carwashes in the province. Today, the Policaro Group are proud stewards of multiple automobile franchises encompassing four brands, Acura, BMW, Lexus and Porsche and lux- ury and super sports cars through their Motion Endeavours division. They provide enhanced customer-centric services, such as a 24-hour service kiosk and online sales that come complete with self-service olo test drives and vehicle home delivery, including real-time delivery tracking. They also offer bespoke leasing solutions and access to complete vehicle customization.
“There’s nothing we can’t do to make the automotive experience better for our clients,” adds Hans Bigler, the Executive Vice-President of Operations and Administration for the Policaro Group. “Whether it’s a service or maintaining their confidence, we can be trusted to fulfill their needs and keep information close to the vest. We focus on luxury vehicles, so we deal with a lot of high-profile clients. Our goal is to make every experience a positive and memorable one.”
With the Policaro Group’s ongoing expansion in the luxury automotive sector and courtesy of their heritage in racing, it’s only natural these premium services will soon merge to extend onto the track. While it will be a 24-month race to the finish line, both the Group and Oro Station are committed to driving the motorsports industry in Canada, while simul- taneously showcasing Canadian talent on the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile-approved motor circuit. This talent includes, of course, the Policaro Group’s professional racing team. Proficient with handling speed, these competitive drivers are a force, having claimed multiple victories at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge and Porsche Esports Sprint Challenge Canada, and at the Canadian Touring Car Championships. Factor in the electricity of watching fast cars handle tight turns and corners, the frenzy of pit crews jumping into action, the revving of high-powered engines and the thrill of the race and Oro Station Motor Circuit Park promises to be the most exhilarating new footprint in a well-travelled industry.
“We take every moment to define the automotive experience for our community,” says Bigler. “Our community is interested in luxury vehicles and in racing. Now we have a destination for both.”