Winners: Gilles Villeneuve, Auto Racing
Gilles Villeneuve holding the Canadian Grand Prix Trophy.
Date: October 8, 1978
Collection: CP photo
1979 - Feature Story
Gilles Villeneuve was a team player. In 1979, he was driving for the fabled Ferrari team on the Formula One circuit, an assignment he called a dream come true. He won three Grand Prix events, one in South Africa and two in the United States, at Long Beach, California, and Watkins Glen, New York. At Watkins Glen on a rainy practice day, Villeneuve showed why he was considered a master of driving in wet conditions. He ran a practice lap 11 seconds faster than anyone, a feat unmatched before or since on the F1 circuit. By the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s championship coronation was complete; the Ferraris ran 1-2. Villeneuve followed team instructions and did not pass teammate Jody Scheckter, which is how they finished the race and the F1 drivers’ standing: Scheckter first and Villeneuve second.
Career Highlights
- 1981 Monaco and Spanish Grand Prix winner
- 1979 Grand Prix wins in South Africa, Long Beach (U.S. West) and Watkins Glen (U.S. East)
- 1979 Second-place, Formula One World Championship
- 1979 Lionel Conacher Award (Canada’s male athlete of the year)
- 1978 Canadian Grand Prix winner
Formula Ford car driven by Gilles Villeneuve.
Date: 1973
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Enzo Ferrari and Gilles Villeneuve.
Date: 1970’s
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Car driven by Gilles Villeneuve in his first season of Formula Atlantic.
Date: 1974
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Gilles Villeneuve with his parents, Georgette and Séville, wife Joan, brother Jacques and son Jacques after winning the Canadian Grand Prix, his first victory in Formula 1.
Date: 1978
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
The wing of Gilles Villeneuve’s Ferrari.
Date: 1978
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Visor worn by Gilles Villeneuve in the Formula Atlantic series.
Date: 1970’s
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Trophy won by Gilles Villeneuve at the Grand Prix of the United States at Watkins Glen New York, USA.
Date: 1979
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Formula 1 suit worn by Gilles Villeneuve during the 1981 World Championship season.
Date: 1981
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Trophy won by Gilles Villeneuve at the Grand Prix Molson, Trois-Rivieres.
Date: September 6, 1981
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
Body of the Ferrari 126 C2, driven by Gilles Villeneuve at the start of the Formula 1 season on the Kyalami track in South Africa.
Date: 1982
Collection: Gilles Villeneuve Museum
