The Canadian Grand Prix - did you know? The Canadian Grand Prix - did you know? Share Did you know that six drivers have scored their maiden Grand Prix triumphs in Canada? Or that the polesitter has gone on to win in just four of the last 10 races? We bring you all the need-to-know stats, facts and trivia ahead of the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada 2015... Gilles Villeneuve won the inaugural race in Montreal in 1978. The circuit was renamed in his honour in 1982 While Canada has had three Grand Prix venues - Mosport, Mont-Tremblant and Montreal - it is the latter that has become the permanent home of the country's Formula One race. This year will be the 36th time that Montreal has hosted a round of the world championship. Only five circuits have hosted more: Monza (64), Monaco (62), Silverstone (48), Spa-Francorchamps (47) and the Nurburgring (40). Twenty three drivers in total have triumphed in Montreal, including one Canadian - Gilles Villeneuve, whom the circuit is now named after.

Villeneuve's 1978 triumph was also his maiden victory in F1. Since then, five others drivers have repeated the trick: Thierry Boutsen (1989), Jean Alesi (1995), Lewis Hamilton (2007), Robert Kubica (2008) and most recently Daniel Ricciardo, who claimed his breakthrough in a chaotic race in 2014. Michael Schumacher celebrated a record seventh win in Montreal in 2004 Michael Schumacher is far and away the most successful driver in history at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. The German triumphed here seven times, was on the podium 12 times in total, and also sealed pole position on six different occasions. To put that in perspective, Nelson Piquet is either second or joint-second in those three categories, with three wins, five podiums and three poles respectively. In terms of the current grid, it is Lewis Hamilton who leads the way. The Briton has triumphed three times, and taken four podiums in total - meaning he has stood on the rostrum in every race he has finished in Montreal.

From seven races, he has led at least one lap on all but one occasion. His qualifying record is also superb - he has missed the front row just once, when he lined up fifth in 2011... ...a race that holds the distinction of being the longest in F1 history, at 4h 4m 39.537s (which included a two-hour rain break). Jenson Button prevailed in the most dramatic of circumstances, fighting back from 21st on the road to pass Sebastian Vettel on the final lap. Kimi Raikkonen came through from seventh on the grid to triumph in 2005 In the last 10 races in Montreal, the polesitter has been victorious on just four occasions. Over that time period, both Kimi Raikkonen (2005) and Button in 2011 prevailed despite starting outside the top six. The lowest any winner has started though is 10th. Jacques Laffite holds that particular record, winning for Ligier in 1981. It would prove to be his sixth and final F1 win.

Two years later, Ferrari's Rene Arnoux recorded what remains the biggest winning margin in a Grand Prix at Montreal, as he crossed the line 42.029s ahead of Renault's Eddie Cheever. The smallest winning margin came in 2000, when Michael Schumacher took the chequered flag just 0.174s ahead of Ferrari team mate Rubens Barrichello. In terms of team wins, Ferrari lead the pack with 10 victories to McLaren's nine. Both teams have won for three consecutive years in Montreal - Ferrari between 2002 and '04, and McLaren between 2010 and '12. Williams (7) are the only other team to have prevailed more than twice here. Should either Hamilton or Nico Rosberg claim pole this weekend, it will mark the 18th consecutive time a Mercedes has started from the front of the field. That would lift them ahead of McLaren's run of 17 straight poles recorded by Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost between 1988 and '89.

Williams are the only team that can better that tally, after claiming 24 consecutive poles between the French Grand Prix in 1992 and Japan in 1993. Recommended Canada FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA 2016 Canada Unfortunately, we are unable to play the video at this time. Error Code: UNKNOWN 1:13.622 by Rubens Barrichello (2004) Fri 10 – Sun 12 Jun 2016 Practice 1 Next Previous 1 / 5 Salut Gilles on the grid. Formula One World Championship, Rd 7, Canadian Grand Prix, Race, Montreal, Canada, Sunday 12 June 2011. Winner Ayrton Senna (BRA) McLaren MP4/4 Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal , 12 June 1988. Robert Kubica (POL) BMW Sauber F1.08 celebrates his first GP win in parc ferme. Formula One World Championship, Rd 7, Canadian Grand Prix, Race, Montreal, Canada, Sunday 8 June 2008.

© Sutton Motorsport Images Winner Michael Schumacher(GER) Ferrari F300 with the city of Montreal in the background. Formula One World Championship, Canadian Grand Prix, Montreal, Canada, 7 June 1998. Pole sitter Jean-Pierre Jarier (FRA) Lotus 79 leads the field at the start of the race. Canadian Grand Prix, Rd 16, Montreal, Canada, 8 October 1978. In the 1960s the rivalry between French and English speaking Canada meant that the country's Grand Prix had two homes: Mosport Park one year and Mont-Tremblant the next. By 1970, however, Mont-Tremblant was deemed too dangerous and the race moved full time to Mosport Park. In 1977 the French Canadians, motivated by the incredible success of Gilles Villeneuve, decided it was about time they built a race track. Building a new circuit simply wasn't feasible, however, as time and money were against them. Their solution was simple and effective. Taking the Ile Notre-Dame, they connected all the island's roads and made a circuit.

The island had been the home of the 1967 World Fair (Expo'67) and was full of futuristic looking buildings. It was, everyone agreed, a perfect venue for a Grand Prix. After $2m was spent on upgrading the circuit to Formula One standards, the first race was held there in October 1978. Gilles Villeneuve, in his first season with Ferrari, was yet to win a Formula One race, but at his home Grand Prix he took a memorable debut victory. Following his tragic death in 1982, the track was renamed in his honour. His son, Jacques, never won at the track but some of the great drivers of the sport have taken the spoils here. Michael Schumacher holds the record of having won seven times in Canada. It is also the scene of Jean Alesi's single Grand Prix victory in 1995, driving the number 27 Ferrari, the same car number which carried Gilles Villeneuve into the hearts of the Canadian Formula One fans.

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve // Formula 1 circuit Fastest lap Nico Rosberg The Canadian Grand Prix was sorely missed when it was left off the calendar in 2009 but it has been a mainstay since then. The lush and green surroundings hide a challenging track that can feature such unique issues as meandering groundhogs, intense and delaying rain, plus that tricky Wall of Champions that has ended many a driver and champion's race. Named after the Canadian champion, the track is squeezed onto the Ile Notre-Dame and features a challenging hairpin at one end. F1 history The Canadian Grand Prix was the sole representative of Formula One in North America, when Indianapolis lost the US race, and the Circuit of the Americas was yet to arrive. When the Montreal circuit was left off the calendar in 2009, it only served to show just how popular the race was, and how much it was missed. The track produces good racing in a picturesque setting, with some unique challenges. A particular highlight is the Wall of Champions, a tricky chicane right at the end of a lap, and so-called because of the many future and current F1 champions that have seen their race end in disgrace due to that particular stretch of barrier.

The track is long and challenging, and keeping focus until the very end is key to avoid the embarrassment of crashing out just moments from the finish line. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve turns things around after the twisting track of Monaco. With long straights ending in tight corners, top speed is a key element of getting a good lap. Canada is supremely heavy on braking, and the black dust that can pour from those components is a regular sight during the race. The tarmac can also provide additional difficulties, as it gets very bumpy at certain points. Although resurfaced on a regular basis, the tarmac can actually break up and cause sessions to be halted while emergency repairs are completed. There’s also a relatively short pit lane in Montreal, which makes strategy more important than ever. The safety car often makes an appearance, and making sure pit stops occur at exactly the right moment is what keeps the heads on the pit wall busy. The lap starts with a short run to the first corner, where the brakes get their initial test. The second corner twists back 180 degrees, and the following chicane keeps speeds slow. Drivers hit the kerbs as much as possible, but aim to keep control and not damage the car at the same time.

The second sector gets things moving, with a handful of corners peppering the straights. The deceptively hard hairpin is surrounded by grandstands so any small error is seen by hundreds of people. It’s also a prime overtaking spot, and can see drivers down to first or second gear. Finally, hustling back towards the start/finish line, drivers navigate the Wall of Champions, hopefully without incident, and then cross the line to finish the lap. Learn more about Canada with the Pocket F1 Handbook . Share FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DU CANADA - Circuit Gilles Villeneuve The F1 FORMULA 1 logo, FORMULA 1, F1, FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, GRAND PRIX DU CANADA and related marks are trade marks of Formula One Licensing BV, a Formula One group company. All rights reserved. © 2017 Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve. All rights reserved. | v2.0 | Website designed and built by HPJ .

Gilles Villeneuve | The Formula 1 Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia 1981 Spanish Grand Prix Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve ( DJILL VILL-nerve ; born 18 January 1950 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Montérégie, Quebec, Canada – died 8 May 1982 in Leuven, Flemish Brabant, Flemish Region, Belgium) was a Canadian racing driver who most notably drove for Ferrari in Formula One . Villeneuve started his racing career in snowmobile racing, before moving into single-seater cars, winning the Formula Atlantic Championship in 1976. He drove a solitary race for McLaren as a third driver in 1977 before moving to Ferrari, also as a third driver, with whom he drove the final two races of the season after World Champion Niki Lauda choose to sit out the final two races of the season. Villeneuve won his first race at the end of the 1978 season, at his home race .

Villeneuve continued in 1979 strongly, winning three races and taking four second places to finish the championship second behind teammate Jody Scheckter . After a disappointing 1980 and an up-and-down 1981 (in which Villeneuve took two victories), Villeneuve started the 1982 in a car capable of challenging for the title on terms of both speed and reliability. After an altercation with Didier Pironi at the boycott-affected San Marino Grand Prix , in which he vowed to never speak to his French teammate again, Villeneuve was fatally injured in an accident with Jochen Mass in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at the age of 32. Gilles' younger brother, Jacques , competed in F1 without any success. In 1996 , his son, also called Jacques , began his Formula One career, during which he became the only Canadian to win the Formula One World Championship in 1997 . In his legacy, the circuit in Montreal was named after him and the number 27 Ferrari car is still associated with him. Contents Edit Villeneuve began his racing career when racing his personal car in drag-racing competitions.

He eventually earned a racing license at the Jim Russell Racing School at Le Circuit Mont Tremblant. He then began racing a very successful season in Formula Ford with a car he had purchased. He managed to win seven of the ten races he entered. After only a season of Formula Ford, he advanced to the higher Formula Atlantic series where he raced for four years. Because of his popularity in snowmobile racing, he was able to gain a sponsor for his second year of Formula Atlantic from the snowmobile company, Skiroule. "Every winter, you would reckon on three or four big spills—and I'm talking about being thrown on to the ice at 100 miles per hour. Those things used to slide a lot, which taught me a great deal about control. And the visibility was terrible! Unless you were leading, you could see nothing, with all the snow blowing about. Good for the reactions—and it stopped me having any worries about racing in the rain." Villeneuve talking about his experiences in snowmobile racing Continuing his Formula Atlantic career, he raced against many Formula One legends such as James Hunt , who would eventually help Villeneuve to move to Formula One.

1977 Edit After beating James Hunt and other legendary drivers in a Formula Atlantic race, Villeneuve was offered a position on the McLaren Racing Team as a third driver. Villeneuve did not race until the tenth race of the 1977 season , the British Grand Prix . He qualified in ninth position on the grid and finished the race in eleventh place, after a temperature gauge malfunction that put him two laps down. This was Villeneuve's only race with the McLaren team as they decided not to renew his contract for the upcoming season. After being released from McLaren, Villeneuve signed with Ferrari for the final two races of the 1977 season. Villeneuve would spend the remainder of his racing career with team Ferrari. During the last two races of the 1977 season, Villeneuve served as a substitute for Niki Lauda . He finished twelfth in his first Canadian Grand Prix , but was taken out of the Japanese Grand Prix after being involved in an accident with Ronnie Peterson on lap five, killing a spectator and track safety marshal .

1978 "If someone said to me that you can have three wishes; my first would have been to get into racing, my second to be in Formula One, my third to drive for Ferrari..." Villeneuve upon joining Ferrari Gilles Villeneuve holding his trophy after winning the 1978 Canadian Grand Prix. Gilles Villeneuve's dream came true as he secured a ride with Ferrari for the 1978 season . During the 1978 season, Villeneuve experienced many issues with the new Michelin tyres that contributed to six race retirements throughout the year. This led to pressure from the media for Ferrari to replace Villeneuve, but this did not happen. At the final race of the season, Villeneuve qualified third in front of his home crowd at the Canadian Grand Prix at the then-named Circuit Île Notre-Dame . After leader Jean-Pierre Jabouille retired, to the delight of the fans, Villeneuve took the lead and won his home race for what turned out to be the only time in his career. Many say that this win was the highlight of his entire career in Formula One.

1979 In the 1979 season , Villeneuve was joined by his new teammate, Jody Scheckter , who was replacing Carlos Reutemann . Villeneuve went on to win three races that season. The most memorable race of the season was the French Grand Prix when Villeneuve and Renault 's René Arnoux battled for second position in the closing laps of the race. Villeneuve managed to beat the Frenchman after drifting and locking his tyres on multiple turns and even making contact at one point. This was the race of the season and is still known as one of the greatest battles in Formula One history. "That is my best memory of Grand Prix racing. Those few laps were just so fantastic to me - out-braking each other and trying to race for the line, touching each other but without wanting to put the other car out. It was just these two guys battling for second place without trying to be dirty but having to touch because of wanting to be first. I loved that moment." Villeneuve after battling Arnoux At the end of the season, Villeneuve missed out on being World Champion by four points.

Ferrari finished first and second in the championship points with Scheckter as the World Champion. 1980 Edit Ferrari experienced its worst year in its history during the 1980 season . The team's car lacked the down force and grip provided from the ground effect that other teams had. Villeneuve did not finish six out of the fourteen races in the season and only earned six championship points, while his teammate, Jody Scheckter only earned two points and would then retire at the end of the season. 1981 Edit In the 1981 season , Ferrari released their first turbo engine car. Although the car was fast, it still lacked much of the down force and handling abilities that the other teams had. "That car...had literally one quarter of the downforce that, say Williams or Brabham had. It had a power advantage over the Cosworths for sure, but it also had massive throttle lag at that time. In terms of sheer ability I think Gilles was on a different plane to the other drivers. To win those races, the 1981 GPs at Monaco and Jarama —on tight circuits—was quite out of this world.

I know how bad that car was." Ferrari team engineer, Harvey Postlethwaite Ferrari hired Didier Pironi as Villeneuve's new teammate for the season. The 1981 Spanish Grand Prix would be Villeneuve's last victory and the second closest finish in Formula One history, with a lead of 0.22 seconds over Jacques Laffite . Villeneuve finished the season in 7th place with 25 points after facing 8 retirements and a disqualification from the Caesars Palace Grand Prix for an incorrect start. 1982 Edit Didier Pironi wins after overtaking Gilles Villeneuve on the last lap of the 1982 San Marino Grand Prix. The 1982 season was followed by two retirements and a disqualification from the United States Grand Prix West for an illegal rear wing on the car. Villeneuve's teammate also became his rival at the San Marino Grand Prix when the teammate overtook him on the last lap of the race, despite orders from the team to hold position. Villeneuve was angry and claimed that he would never talk to Pironi again.

But Pironi himself believed that he had done nothing wrong because the team only ordered for the cars to slow down to save gas, and did not request for him to hold position. "I think it is well known that if I want someone to stay behind me and I am faster, then he stays behind me." Villeneuve, talking about the events that unfolded in San Marino Ferrari would also face tragedy when Villeneuve was killed while qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix . Death See also: Death of Gilles Villeneuve During a qualifying session for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix , Villeneuve was killed with eight minutes remaining in the session. While returning to the pits for a fresh set of tyres, Villeneuve was gaining on Jochen Mass , who was traveling at a much slower speed. To allow Villeneuve to overtake him, Mass moved to the right of the track, but Villeneuve was also traveling to the right for the overtake. Villeneuve struck the rear of Mass' car, sending the Ferrari airborne at a speed estimated to be faster than 200 km/h.

After being airborne for over 100 m, the car nosedived into the ground ejecting Villeneuve's seat from the car and into the catch fence. He was removed from the catch fence by fellow drivers John Watson and Derek Warwick . Medical staff arrived on scene within a minute of the accident and treated the breathless Canadian. He was taken to the track medical centre and airlifted to University St Raphael Hospital. He died of fatal neck fractures later that evening after being kept on life support for a number of hours. Legacy Edit The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve start/finish line in 1983 The track hosting the Canadian Grand Prix , originally named the Île Notre-Dame Circuit was renamed the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in memory of the Canadian racing legend. The message "Salut Gilles" can be found at the start/finish line of the circuit in his honor. In 1993, Gilles Villeneuve was inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall Of Fame followed by the issuing of the Gilles Villeneuve Canadian postage stamp in 1997.

In the San Marino Grand Prix track Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari (commonly known as Imola), the 5th and 6th turns have been named "Variante Villeneuve" in Villeneuve's honor. The third starting grid of the track also has a Canadian flag painted on the pavement, as well as a bronze bust of him at the entrance to the Ferrari test track. At Zolder , the corner in which Villeneuve was killed was turned into a chicane turned named in his memory. Helmet Design Edit Gilles Villeneuve's helmet design. Gilles Villeneuve's helmet was black with a stylish red "V" in the rear of the helmet. This design was created with his wife. Since his death, several drivers such as Christian Fittipaldi , Perry McCarthy , and his son Jacques have used the design with an alternate colour scheme. Jacques' helmet placed the "V" on the sides of the helmet, and instead of red and black used blue, pink, yellow, green and red and the base. Formula One Statistical Overview Formula 1 Grand Prix Du Canada 2016 au Circuit Gilles Villeneuve | Montreal - June 2016 An error in this activity ?

Suggest a modification Montréal In the 1960s the rivalry between French and English speaking Canada meant that the country's Grand Prix had two homes: Mosport Park one year and Mont-Tremblant the next. By 1970, however, Mont-Tremblant was deemed too dangerous and the race moved full time to Mosport Park. In 1977 the French Canadians, motivated by the incredible success of Gilles Villeneuve, decided it was about time they built a race track. Building a new circuit simply wasn't feasible, however, as time and money were against them. Their solution was simple and effective. Taking the Ile Notre-Dame, they connected all the island's roads and made a circuit. The island had been the home of the 1967 World Fair (Expo'67) and was full of futuristic looking buildings. It was, everyone agreed, a perfect venue for a Grand Prix. After $2m was spent on upgrading the circuit to Formula One standards, the first race was held there in October 1978.

Gilles Villeneuve, in his first season with Ferrari, was yet to win a Formula One race, but at his home Grand Prix he took a memorable debut victory. Following his tragic death in 1982, the track was renamed in his honour. His son, Jacques, never won at the track but some of the great drivers of the sport have taken the spoils here. Michael Schumacher holds the record of having won seven times in Canada. It is also the scene of Jean Alesi's single Grand Prix victory in 1995, driving the number 27 Ferrari, the same car number which carried Gilles Villeneuve into the hearts of the Canadian Formula One fans. Practical info.

Canadian Formula One Gilles-Villeneuve Montreal Circuit, Race Tickets and Hospitality - Select Motor Racing Circuit Information Page Location; Montréal, Canada, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Start Time - Local : 14:00 - GMT : 18:00 Lap : 4.361kms / 2.709miles | Race : 70 laps (305.270kms / 189.694miles) | Offset : 0.000 The Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, is named after the nation's favorite driver, Gilles Villeneuve. History of the Circuit It was Gilles Villeneuve who provided the fans with a debut victory on the first running of the race in 1978 and thrilled fans thereafter until his death at Zolder Circuit in 1982. Situated on a man-made island in the St Lawrence Seaway, popular with the drivers, the circuit was given a few modifications in 1979. It is now has twisty sections joined by high-speed straights and tight hairpins. The pits used to be located directly after the Casino hairpin.

In 1987 it was time for a circuit upgrade and new pit facilities where built. There have been a few modifications to the final chicane and the back straight, the chicane is usually referred to as 'Champion's Corner', it now has a rubber-belted tyre wall added. Events Today During the Formula One Grand Prix there are other great support races on the shedule ; the Grand Prix du Canada always makes sure to offer extra on-track activities to its fans. This year, a great support races schedule is being put together. Apart from the CCTC Series and the Ferrari Challenge, we also have secured the Formula 1600 Series. The F1600, also called Formula Ford, is an open wheel vehicle, the series race in 40 different countries and is one of the most accessible race series for motorsports enthousiasts. Watch those cars go from 0 to 100 km/h in 6 seconds, and go as fast as 240 km/h around Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this summer!

I look forward to hearing from you, Kevin May Race 70 laps or 2 hours Grandstand Locations General Admission In order to observe all the action on the track, you have access to the following areas: between grandstands 15, 24 and 22 in the hairpin; behind grandstand 34, close to grandstand 33. Space is limited and the early birds are more susceptible to occupy the best observation posts. You can visit the exhibits in the center of the track as well as the support races paddocks. Gold 1 & 2 Facing the pits and starting grid In the western part of the circuit, the F1 teams' pit-stalls are a scene of intense and frenzied activity during practice, qualifying and the race as cars enter the pits area. From ultra-comfortable seats, you'll also see the formation of the starting grid, the pre-race ceremonies and the final preparations in the half-hour before the start of the Grand Prix. A giant screen allows you to follow the action at all times.

Silver 11 & 12 At the Senna corner in the western part of the circuit, a few hundred yards past the startline, drivers must negotiate one of the most spectacular and legendary series of corners in the entire world championship: intense braking at the end of the straight, a left-hand corner, followed immediately by a hairpin, out of which they accelerate up towards a chicane. It's often the scene of spectacular manoeuvres and incidents likely to change the course of the event. A giant screen allows you to follow the action at all times. Silver 15, 21, 22 & 24 At the Hairpin In the eastern part of the circuit, a short walk from the Cosmos bridge and metro station, the Hairpin offers great passing opportunities and is also notable for its piercing sounds as the F1 cars slow down at the entrance to the corner and then accelerate again as they exit onto Casino straight. A true mechanical symphony as the speeds go from 290 to 60 km/h. Your seat in this grandstand is also just a short distance from a visit to the support race paddock. A giant screen allows you to follow the action at all times.

Bronze 31 At the bridge chicane In the northern part of the circuit, a short walk across the Cosmos bridge from the metro station, this sequence again requires hard braking (from 300 to 110 km/h) under the bridge to negotiate the first right-hand corner over the curbs and then to resume the racing line for the left-hander which follows immediately. No rest for the drivers. A giant screen allows you to follow the action at all times. There's also plenty of souvenir shops nearby as well as a footbridge to the interior of the circuit to occupy any breaks in the on-track action. Bronze 33 At the Canada Pavilion Located in the northern part of the circuit, reached via the Concorde bridge, this left-right sequence requires the drivers to break hard for the first turn (from 260 to 90 km/h), and then after a straight of few dozen meters long, they have to negotiate the second corner with precision so as not to get off-line or to close to the outside wall. Your grandstand seat offers you a magnificent view of downtown Montreal and the shaded Floralies gardens. A giant screen allows you to follow the action at all times.

So you get both action and a pastoral environment. Select Motor Racing - 'Run by Fans for Fans' Gilles Villeneuve | The F1 History Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia 1982 Belgian Grand Prix Joseph Gilles Henri Villeneuve, better known as Gilles Villeneuve (January 18, 1950 – May 8, 1982), was a Canadian racing driver. He was offered a drive in Formula One with the McLaren team at the 1977 British Grand Prix . He was taken on by reigning world champions Ferrari for the end of the season and from 1978 to his death in 1982 drove for the Italian team. He won six Grand Prix races in a short career at the highest level. In 1979, he finished second by four points in the championship to team-mate Jody Scheckter . Villeneuve died in a 140 mph (225 km/h) crash caused by a collision with the March of Jochen Mass during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder.

His son, Jacques Villeneuve , became Formula One world champion in 1997 and, to date, the only Canadian to win the Formula One World Championship. Contents Edit Villeneuve was born in Richelieu, a small town just outside Montreal, in the largely French-speaking province of Quebec in Canada and grew up in Berthierville. Villeneuve began his racing career in snowmobile racing before moving to the regional 1973 Formula Ford championship in Quebec. He ran his own two-year-old car and won seven of the ten races he entered winning the overall championship. In 1974 Villeneuve won the international snowmobile championship and then moved up to Formula Atlantic which he competed in for four years. He won his first race in 1975 at Gimli Motosport Park in heavy rain. The following year he dominated the season, winning all but one of the races and taking both the US and Canadian titles. He followed this up by winning the Canadian title again in 1977. During a non-championship Formula Atlantic race at Trois-Rivières in 1976 Villeneuve beat several Grand Prix stars inclduing McLaren driver James Hunt .

After being impressed by Villeneuve, Hunt's McLaren team offered him a Formula One deal for up to five races in a third car during the 1977 season . Villeneuve competing in Formula Atlantic during 1976 Edit Villeneuve made his Formula One debut at the 1977 British Grand Prix , where he qualified 9th in McLaren's old M23 , splitting the regular drivers Hunt and Jochen Mass who were driving newer M26s . In the race he set fifth fastest lap and finished 11th after being delayed for two laps by a faulty temperature gauge. Despite this, shortly after the race McLaren's experienced team manager Teddy Mayer decided not to continue with Villeneuve for the following year. His explanation was that Villeneuve "was looking as though he might be a bit expensive" and that Patrick Tambay , the team's eventual choice for 1978, was showing similar promise. Villeneuve was left with no solid options for 1978, although Canadian Walter Wolf , considered giving him a drive at Wolf Racing and also recommended him to the Ferrari team's founder, Enzo Ferrari .

In August 1977 he flew to Italy to meet Ferrari, who was immediately reminded of the pre-war European champion Tazio Nuvolari : "When they presented me with this 'piccolo canadese', this minuscule bundle of nerves, I immediately recognised in him the physique of Nuvolari and said to myself, let's give him a try." Villeneuve signed to drive for Ferrari for the last two races of the 1977 season and the 1978 season. Villeneuve later remarked that: "If someone said to me that you can have three wishes, my first would have been to get into racing, my second to be in Formula 1, my third to drive for Ferrari..." Villeneuve's arrival was one factor that prompted Ferrari driver Niki Lauda to quit the team at the 1977 Canadian Grand Prix having already clinched his second championship with the Italian team. Villeneuve retired from the race after sliding off the track on another competitor's oil. He also raced in the Japanese Grand Prix , but retired on lap five when he tried to outbrake the Tyrrell P34 of Ronnie Peterson .

The pair banged wheels causing Villeneuve's Ferrari to became airborne. It landed on a group of spectators watching the race from a prohibited area, killing one spectator and a race marshal and injuring ten people. After an investigation into the incident no blame was apportioned and, although he was "terribly sad" at the deaths, Villeneuve did not feel responsible for them. Villeneuve makes his F1 debut at the 1977 British GP Villeneuve airborne after trying to outbrake Ronnie Peterson at the 1977 Japanese GP Edit The 1978 season saw a succession of retirements for Villeneuve, often caused by problems with the new Michelin radial tyres. Early in the season, he started on the front row at the United States Grand Prix West , but he crashed out of the lead on lap 39. He finishes a then career best fourth at the Belgian Grand Prix followed by three non-points finishes. Despite calls in the Italian press for him to be replaced, Ferrari persisted with him. Towards the end of the season, Villeneuve's results began to improve. At Austria he took his first ever podium.

He finished second at the Italian Grand Prix , however he was penalised a minute for jumping the start, ending up seventh. Villeneuve ran second at the United States Grand Prix before his engine failed. Finally at the season-ending Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Île Notre-Dame Villeneuve scored his first Grand Prix win after Jean-Pierre Jarier 's Lotus stopped with engine trouble. As of 2016, he is the only Canadian to win his home race. Villeneuve celebrates his maiden win at the 1978 Canadian GP Edit Villeneuve was joined by South African Jody Scheckter for 1979 after Carlos Reutemann moved to Lotus . He started the year well, winning rounds three and four . This was followed by two non-points finishes and a retiremnt at Monaco. The following race, the 1979 French Grand Prix , is remembered for Villeneuve's wheel-banging duel with René Arnoux in the last laps of the race. Arnoux passed Villeneuve for second place with three laps to go, but Villeneuve re-passed him on the next lap.

On the final lap Arnoux attempted to pass Villeneuve again, and the pair ran side-by-side through the first few corners of the lap, making contact several times. Arnoux took the position but Villeneuve attempted an outside pass one corner later. The cars bumped hard, Villeneuve slid wide but then passed Arnoux on the inside at a hairpin turn and held him off for the last half of the lap to secure second place. At the Dutch Grand Prix a slow puncture collapsed Villeneuve's left rear tyre and put him off the track. He returned to the circuit and limped back to the pits on three wheels, losing the damaged wheel on the way. On his return to the pits Villeneuve insisted that the team replace the missing wheel, and had to be persuaded that the car was beyond repair. Villeneuve could have won the World Championship by beating Scheckter at the following Italian Grand Prix , but chose to follow team orders and finish behind him, ending his own championship challenge. The pair finished first and second in the championship, with Scheckter beating Villeneuve by just four points.

During the extremely wet Friday practice session for the season-ending United States Grand Prix , Villeneuve set a time variously reported to be either 9 or 11 seconds faster than any other driver. His team-mate Jody Scheckter, who was second fastest, recalled that "I scared myself rigid that day. I thought I had to be quickest. Then I saw Gilles's time and — I still don't really understand how it was possible. Eleven seconds!" Villeneuve went on to win the race ending the year on a high. Villeneuve and Arnoux duel at the 1979 French GP Villeneuve on his three wheel lap at the 1979 Dutch GP Edit For the 1981 season , Ferrari introduced their first turbo engined F1 car, the 126CK , which produced tremendous power but was let down by its poor handling. Villeneuve was partnered with Didier Pironi who replaced the retired Scheckter. Villeneuve won two races during the season, Monaco and Spain, along with a total of eigth retirements during the season. The Monaco Grand Prix was his first win since the end of the 1979 season.

At the Spanish Grand Prix Villeneuve kept five quicker cars behind him for most of the race using the superior straight-line speed of his car. After an hour and 46 minutes of racing Villeneuve led second-placed Jacques Laffite by only 0.22 seconds. Fifth-placed Elio de Angelis was only just over a second further back. At the 1981 Canadian Grand Prix Villeneuve damaged the front wing of his Ferrari and drove for most of the race in heavy rain with the wing obscuring his view ahead. There was a risk of being black flagged but eventually the wing became detached and Villeneuve drove on to finish third with the nose section of his car missing. Villeneuve ended the season with 25 points and placed 7th in the Driver's Championship. Villeneuve at the 1981 Monaco GP Edit The first few races of the 1982 season seemed promising for Villeneuve. He led in Brazil in the new 126C2 , before spinning into retirement, and finished third at the United States Grand Prix West although he was later disqualified for a technical infringement.

The Ferraris were handed an unexpected advantage at the San Marino Grand Prix as an escalation of the FISA-FOCA war saw the FOCA teams boycott the race, effectively leaving Renault as Ferrari's only serious opposition. With Renault driver Prost retiring from fourth place on lap 7 followed by his team-mate Arnoux on the 44th lap Ferrari seemed to have the win guaranteed. In order to conserve fuel and ensure the cars finished the Ferrari team ordered both drivers to slow down. Villeneuve believed that the order also meant that the drivers were to maintain position but Pironi passed Villeneuve. A few laps later Villeneuve re-passed Pironi and slowed down again, believing that Pironi was simply trying to entertain the Italian crowd. On the last lap Pironi passed and aggressively chopped across the front of Villeneuve and took the win. Villeneuve was irate as he believed that Pironi had disobeyed the order to hold position. Meanwhile Pironi claimed that he had done nothing wrong as the team had only ordered the cars to slow down, not maintain position.

Villeneuve stated after the race "I think it is well known that if I want someone to stay behind me and I am faster, then he stays behind me." Feeling betrayed and angry Villeneuve vowed never to speak to Pironi again. A comparison of the lap times of the two drivers showed that Villeneuve lapped far slower when he was in the lead, suggesting that he had indeed been trying to save fuel. Villeneuve and Pironi at battle the 1982 San Marino GP Edit On 8 May 1982, Villeneuve died after an accident during the final qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. At the time of the crash, Pironi had set a time 0.1s faster than Villeneuve for sixth place. Villeneuve was using his final set of qualifying tyres, which were probably already past their best, and many writers say that he was attempting to improve his time on his final lap. Some suggest that he was specifically aiming to beat Pironi.

However, Villeneuve's biographer Gerald Donaldson quotes Ferrari race engineer Mauro Forghieri as saying that the Canadian, although pressing on in his usual fashion, was returning to the pits when the accident occurred. If so, he would not have set a time on that lap. With eight minutes of the session left, Villeneuve came over the rise after the first chicane and caught Jochen Mass travelling much more slowly through the left-handed bend before the Terlamenbocht corner. Mass saw Villeneuve approaching at high speed and moved to the right to let him through on the racing line . At the same instant Villeneuve also moved right to pass the slower car. The Ferrari hit the back of Mass' car and was launched into the air at a speed estimated at 200–225 km/h (120–140 mph). It was airborne for more than 100 m before nosediving into the ground and disintegrating as it somersaulted along the edge of the track.

Villeneuve, still strapped to his seat, but without his helmet, was thrown a further 50 m from the wreckage into the catch fencing on the outside edge of the Terlamenbocht corner. Several drivers stopped and rushed to the scene. John Watson and Derek Warwick pulled Villeneuve, his face blue, from the catch fence. The first doctor arrived within 35 seconds to find that Villeneuve was not breathing, although his pulse continued; he was intubated and ventilated before being transferred to the circuit medical centre and then by helicopter to University St Raphael Hospital where a fatal fracture of the neck was diagnosed. Villeneuve was kept alive on life support while his wife travelled to the hospital and the doctors consulted with specialists worldwide. He died at 9:12 that evening. Villeneuve airborne after hitting Mass Villeneuve's Ferrari after his fatal accident during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian GP Edit At the time of his death, Villeneuve was extremely popular with fans and has since become an iconic figure in the history of the sport. At the funeral in Berthierville former teammate Jody Scheckter delivered a simple eulogy: "I will miss Gilles for two reasons.

First, he was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. Second, he was the most genuine man I have ever known. But he has not gone. The memory of what he has done, what he achieved, will always be there." The racetrack on Île Notre-Dame, Montreal, host to the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix , was named Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his honour at the Canadian Grand Prix of 1982. At the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari , the venue of the San Marino Grand Prix , a corner was named after him and a Canadian flag is painted on the third slot on the starting grid, from which he started his last race. At Zolder the corner where Villeneuve died has been turned into a chicane and named after him. Helmet design Villeneuve's helmet carried a stylised 'V' in red on either side — an effect he devised with his wife Joann. There was also a red band runnngn around the bottom of the helmet. The base colour was black. 1977-1982 design

Question: Which country has a Formula One Grand Prix Circuit named ‘Gilles Villeneuve’?
Answer: Canada