The creation and construction of a new Disney attraction such as Cars Race Rally takes a lot of time and a lot of pixie dust! However, stretching just 11 months from the first blow of a shovel to the finishing touches, the construction of Cars Race Rally hit the finishing line in record time.

Just one year after the film itself was released, in fact!

1. Before Radiator Springs

2002 onwards

The corner plot of Animation Courtyard sits empty, surrounded by temporary fences.

11th January 2005

Toon Studio is officially announced by Euro Disney Associés SCA (the resort's operating company), and it gradually emerges that a Cars attraction will be the second key development of the new area.

10th February 2006

Land is cleared and prepared. The Mickey's Trailer character location which previously sat at the exact spot of the canyon is moved to Production Courtyard ready for work to begin.

9th June 2006

Exactly 1 year to go until grand opening. Construction fences move outwards into the current land in a large curve, to cover the full area of the new Toon Studio attractions and the Flying Carpets planting enhancements. Paths and trees on the future canyon area are still in place, but not for long...

2. Foundations for Route 66

12th July 2006

Work finally begins on foundations for the attraction's buildings and the large pit for its sunken canyon race area begins to be dug out.

19th August 2006

Foundations are completely dug out for the two pairs of turntables and temporarily lined with tarpaulin for protection before concrete is laid. Existing surrounding tarmac on the Animation Courtyard side is trimmed back to its new dimensions and curved style.

9th September 2006

The lower sections of the turntable foundations are poured and cast in concrete, whilst new curbs are added to the bordering path opposite Animagique and the first sandy grey flooring is poured around the front of the ride plateau. At the far end of the construction site, the first concrete walls are cast for the Radiator Springs-themed queue buildings.

5th October 2006

The queue building races ahead, with the circular entrance section taking shape and the bare façades of the three storefronts cast and constructed in concrete.

15th October 2006

The concrete foundations and plateau for the ride system and turntables is completed, with the edges showing where the ride platforms will sit in place.  Land around the area is dug out to provide the miniaturized movie set "canyon" effect of the 1 metre height difference.

The concrete form of the queue building progresses further, whilst land is prepared for the outdoor "backstage" sections and the slope down towards the ride area. The first steel structure appears for the 'Visitor Center' queueing areas.

21st October 2006

As diagonal steel supports for the roof of the gas station loading area appear, a breeze block wall wraps around the ride area to provide a retaining wall for landscaping and the core foundations for the rocky desert themeing to be applied on top at a later stage.

1st November 2006

The full steel roof structure is now in place at Flo's V8 Café boarding area.

6th November 2006

Work continues on the ride foundations, including those for the automatic safety gates and operating system, whilst the brick wall is prepared for its upcoming themeing. From Studio Tram Tour, regular guests can see the concrete forms of the Radiator Springs queue buildings taking shape. The main forms of the circular entrance building and its three ajoining façades are completed in bare concrete and the steel frame of the circular, sandy-coloured building detail atop the entrance building installed. A taller steel pole shows the future location of the building's main tower and its 'Cars' logo.

3. Ochre Canyons

19th November 2006

The breeze block wall surrounding the right side of the ride area, earlier covered in wire mesh and given a permanent overlayer, now takes on a bright ochre colour in some places. Tubes for lighting, electrics and communications litter the groundwork.  A huge cross-shaped concrete base is poured on the future spot of Willy's Butte.

29th November 2006

Willy's Butte grows to become a tall metal framework with a steel cross-section.

10th December 2006

A thinner wire mesh covers Willy's Butte and the entire construction is filled with concrete and covered in an outer plaster in the rugged terrain detail of the rock formation. The detail is miniaturised to give the effect that the rock towers over the race area below. The entire theme project is constructed by the same team who created the miniature sets of Le Pays des Contes de Fées.

17th December 2006

Willy's Butte has its final ochre colour and perfect attention to detail. Though mostly completed, the rock will still be covered in scaffolding again in later months.

2nd January 2007

The first new planting arrives at Cars Race Rally in the form of a large conifer tree beside Willy's Butte. Window frames also appear in the circular entrance building.

4. Cars & Details

10th January 2007

The three tires which proudly sit atop the storefront of Luigi's Casa Della Tires are installed.

6th February 2007

More themeing is applied on top of the concrete buildings, including the first wood panel themeing for Tow Mater's workshop and the rounded brickwork crown of the 'EAT' building. The ride control booth is installed as scaffolding begins to envelop the loading area canopy, which is still a bare steel frame.

20th February 2007

All 12 of the Cars vehicles are installed along with their turntable platforms. After several days of fitting, they are covered with protective plastic tarps.  More details have been added to the brown pillars of Flo's V8 Café, which has now gained its bright turquoise roof.  Extra plants, including some already well-established trees, are also added.

5th March 2007

The entire metal canopy roof of the queue area is now installed and given guttering, its concrete paths already marked out with steel barriers throughout the covered area. Huge wooden poles appear both throughout the planting areas and along the future Route 66 - to be used both as supports for extra planting and the all-important telegraph poles.

28th March 2007

The sandy-coloured art deco tower from Ramone's House of Body Art makes the leap from CGI to reality and is completed from the roof of the building to its tallest point, awaiting the 'Cars' logo. The turquoise canopy of Flo's gains its spark plug-themed details for future neons and the framework of the Cadillac Range backdrop begins to rise.

30th March 2007

Leaning Tower of Tires completed, Flo's V8 Café neon sign installed, a large amount of new planting is on-site

9th April 2007

Huge Cadillac Range backdrop added, first telegraph poles are completed with horizontal wooden supports, wires and additional details.

14th April 2007

Lighting inside the queue buildings is installed and switched on; Several details for the themed areas inside - such as the gas pump for Flo's V8 Café - begin to arrive on-site.

22nd April 2007

The supports of Flo's gas station canopy are well on their way to looking exactly as they do in the film, neon lights are installed on the spark plugs and around the rectangular canopy and the attraction experiences its very first day of operation with countless test runs (without guests).

25th April 2007

Iconic 'Cars' logo installed, neon lights and show lights turned on across the attraction. Piston Cup added to queue area which now features most of its themeing and signage, still wrapped in plastic.

"Welcome to Radiator Springs" sign now installed.

1st May 2007

Lighting McQueen and Tow Mater arrive at the attraction in their detailed, life-size forms. Dropped off by large container trucks, they're carried across to the attraction with fork-lift trucks, much to the excitement of guests passing by on Studio Tram Tour.

15th May 2007

Luigi and Guido are installed at their Casa Della Tires photo location, which also now features a completed window display of their most famous tires. The signage of Mater's workshop is also finished.

16th May 2007

New banners decorate the entrance building, proclaiming "Welcome Travellers!" from Radiator Springs Chamber of Commerce.

5. Finishing Touches

2nd June 2007

Ramone's customised car hoods are added to the windows of the circular entrance building.

13th June 2007

Green fabric awning added to Luigi's Casa Della Tires façade.