The Groundhog Phenomenon at the Canadian F1 Grand Prix

The groundhog is a pretty famous animal, it starred in chocolate commercials all over Europe, is known to predict the beginning of spring and even famous for being a “permanent unexpected guest” to the Canada Formula 1 Grand Prix where sightings of groundhogs on the track are not rare but always dangerous.

Groundhogs are a type of marmote and are part of the Sciuridae family, same as squirrels and gophers. The marmote has 14 species, 6 in North America and 8 in Europe and Asia. 

A small history on Americas’ Groundhog day

Thousands of people gather each year on Groundhog Day in a small town north-east of Pittsburgh called Punxsutawney to celebrate and see Phil, the local groundhog coming out of his burrow made inside a tree to give his spectators the yearly weather forecast.

According to the legend, if the small rodent can see its shadow on Groundhog Day, it means that the cold weather will continue for another six weeks. If the sky is cloudy and there are no shadows cast on the ground, it means the spring is really close.

The event evolved from an old ritual, brought in America by German immigrants who settled in an area which is now part of Pennsylvania. The first official Groundhog Day took place in 1886, according to the Groundhog Club in Punxsutawney.

Groundhogs and the link to Formula 1

If you are a Formula 1 fan, you can watch the Canadian Grand Prix which usually takes place around the beginning of the month of June and you might see groundhogs crossing the track in different areas. It’s known that race officials are always looking around the track to make sure this doesn’t happen as an accident between an F1 race car at high speeds and a groundhog can have devastating results.