TOOWOOMBA-born IndyCar champion Will Power will be given the keys to the city on Friday at a private civic ceremony.

The region's councillors voted unanimously to confer the honour on Mr Power today at a special meeting of Toowoomba Regional Council.

Mr Power will be in Toowoomba for a limited time and has opted for a private ceremony attended by family and dignitaries.

He is expected to arrive in his home city tonight.

Cr Carol Taylor moved the motion to confer the keys of the city and said Mr Power had always been a proud Toowoomba resident.

"Every opportunity he has to speak about Australia, he mentions Toowoomba," she said.

"He's put our city on the map and he's a proud Toowoomba boy.

"I think he's a wonderful ambassador for our city."

Cr Sue Englart said conferring the keys wasn't a step that council took lightly.

"I'd like to pay tribute not only to Will, but also to his mum and dad who were also born locally.

"He's well and truly a Toowoombaite."

Debate turned to his legacy and whether he should be remembered as a Downlands old boy or a Prince Henry Heights resident.

Cr Nancy Sommerfield said she was proud that Mr Power was a Downlands old boy, while Cr John Gouldson said the driver had learnt his skills on the hills of Prince Henry Heights.

"He terrorised the neighbours driving through the bushland and creating havoc in his childhood," he said.

"That's where he got those driving skills."

Cr Geoff McDonald recalled how the racing car driver had mentioned Toowoomba during an appearance on the Late Show With David Letterman.

He said council should examine whether to recognise the people who had received the city's keys by erecting a board in the Civic Square.