There are a surprisingly high number of family-related racing drivers in the world and this series will explore these. We will start the series with Canadian father and son, Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve. Gilles has had a fantastic racing career that spanned many years in F1. Now, his son has followed in his footsteps and is looking to make an impact on the sport just like his father did. This is the story of a family that lives and breathes motorsport.
Did James Hunt Help Gilles Villeneuve Secure His Place In Formula 1?
Gilles was born in Quebec, Canada in 1950 and began his racing career there driving snowmobiles, showing that racing does not always start with karting. He did a good job, performing well enough to quickly progress to single-seater racing where he won the US and Canada Formula Atlantic Championship, aged 26 years.
James Hunt can be credited for introducing Gilles to McLaren and to the world of Formula 1, having witnessed the Canadian racing in a street race, the Trois Rivieres, in Quebec. James told his McLaren team boss, Teddy Mayer, about Gilles and his talent as a racing driver. This recommendation was further endorsed by Chris Amon, a previous racing driver for McLaren, who confirmed that Gilles would be a talent worth pursuing for McLaren and Formula 1. As a result of this high praise, Gilles was invited to participate in the 1977 British GP, where he drove an impressive race. This is why it's strange that Teddy elected not to sign him up for the remaining season. But this decision left the door open to reigning World Champions, Ferrari, who signed up Gilles for the following season where he drove until his death in 1982 (aged 32 years), following a high-speed crash at 140mph during the qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix. The chicane where he died in Zolder, was named the Villeneuve Chicane, in Gilles' memory.
Fast Fact About Enzo Ferrari and Gilles Villeneuve
Gilles Villeneuve was a favourite driver of Enzo Ferrari. Indeed, Enzo was Team Manager for Alfa Romeo when Tazio Nuvolari raced for the team in the 1930s. Enzo saw the similarities between the two drivers and upon Gilles' death, his tribute was incredibly personal..."His death has deprived us of a great champion - one that I loved very much. My past is scarred with grief; parents, brother, son. My life is full of sad memories. I look back and see the faces of my loved ones and among them I see him".
The Inspiration That Led Jacques Villeneuve To World Championship Status
Born in 1971, Jacques was destined to follow in his father's racing footsteps. Jacques was just 11 years old when he lost his father, Gilles, in a Formula 1 accident. This did not deter the young Canadian. In fact, it inspired him and spurred him on to achieve what his father didn't have the time to achieve - becoming World Champion. Unlike his father, Jacques began his racing career in 1985 in the more conventional karting series, not snowmobiles - aged 14 years. He was talent-spotted in 1985 and invited to race in a 100cc go-kart in Imola. Jacques impressed the track owners and went on to test a 135cc kart and then a Formula Four car.
Both Attended The Same Driving School in Canada
After the death of his father, Jacques' uncle played an important part in the development and progression of his racing career and in 1986 enrolled him in the Jim Russell Racing Driver School in Mont Tremblant, where interestingly, Gilles also was enrolled in order to obtain his racing license. Jacques passed a three-day course driving a Formula Ford 1600 car from Van Diemen. Aged 17, Jacques was invited to participate in the Italian Touring Car Championships, which would mark his racing car debut. Ironically, he was not permitted a license by the Canadian and Italian authorities as he was a year below the minimum age policy so he chose to obtain his international racing license in Andorra, with the help of the Canadian Automobile Sport Clubs. Jacques then signed a three-year contract to drive for Reynard-Alfa Romeo for Prema in Italian Formula 3. Surprisingly, he struggled with the series and enrolled in the Magione Driving School to develop his skills, under the direction of Henry Morrogh. This tuition helped and Jacques went on to qualify for each of the 12 rounds and scored 10 points to take 14th place in the Drivers' Championship.
Jacques drove in CART before joining Williams F1 Team in 1996, whose engine was supplied by Renault. Jacques replaced David Coulthard, who was leaving the team, and Bernie Ecclestone seized this opportunity to entice Jacques from CART. Jacques tested for Williams in August 1995 and went on to sign a contract for 1996 and 1997 partnering Damon Hill, with an option for 1998. In 1997, when Damon left Williams for Arrows, Jacques stepped up as a lead driver, with a new teammate, Heinz-Harald Frentzen. In the same year, Jacques sparred with the mighty Michael Schumacher before eventually taking the Formula 1 Drivers' World Championship. Jacques Villeneuve was the first driver to win a CART championship, the Indianapolis 500, and a Formula 1 World Championship. He is also Canada's first and (currently) only Formula One World Champion.