Jacques Villeneuve

Lore & Background

Born in Quebec and raised in Monaco, Villeneuve is the son of Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve and the nephew of racing driver Jacques-Joseph. He began racing under an Andorran license in Italy at age 17, progressed to Italian Formula Three, then moved to the Toyota Atlantic Championship. He competed in Championship Auto Racing Teams with Forsythe/Green Racing in 1994, finishing sixth in the Drivers' Championship with one victory and earning Rookie of the Year and Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year honours. In 1995 with Team Green, he won four races (including the Indianapolis 500) and the Drivers' Championship. He moved to Williams in Formula One for 1996, claiming four Grand Prix victories and becoming the first rookie runner-up in the World Drivers' Championship. In 1997 he beat Michael Schumacher to become the first Canadian World Drivers' Champion, achieving seven Grand Prix victories. He finished fifth in 1998 with two podiums. After an unsuccessful 1999 with British American Racing (BAR), he finished seventh in the WDC in both 2000 and 2001 with BAR, achieving two podiums in 2001. He raced in Formula One from 2002 to 2006 for BAR, Renault, Sauber, and BMW Sauber, but did not achieve any further success. He left Formula One mid-way through the 2006 season and won the 2008 1000 km of Spa driving for Peugeot. He was appointed Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 1998, and voted winner of both the Lou Marsh Trophy and the Lionel Conacher Award in each of 1995 and 1997. He is an inductee of the Canadian Motor Sports Hall of Fame, Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and the FIA Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The rain at Montreal was heavy, turning the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit into a treacherous mirror of asphalt and spray. Jacques gripped the wheel, his eyes scanning the wet track ahead as the engine roared beneath him. With the championship on the line, he didn't hesitate; he pushed the Renault-powered machine to its absolute limit, carving through the corners with a precision that defied the chaos. As he crossed the finish line, the roar of the Canadian crowd was deafening, a testament to a son returning home to claim his destiny.

Reader's Guide

Villeneuve's early life: born 9 April 1971 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, son of Gilles Villeneuve and Joann Barthe. He has a sister Melanie and a half sister Jessica. His uncle Jacques Sr. also competed in motor racing. At age seven in 1978, his family relocated from Berthierville, Quebec, to Monaco. He attended Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil from ages 12 to 17. He excelled in skiing and experimented with BASE jumping, ice hockey, motocross and water skiing. His early racing career: his mother knew from when he was five that he wanted to race. After his father died in May 1982, he became less interested in motor racing. In 1984 he asked to race; his mother agreed on condition he improved his mathematics. In early September 1985 he tested a 100 cc go-kart at Imola, then a 135 cc kart and a Formula 4 car. In July 1986 he passed a three-day course at the Jim Russell Racing Driver School. In mid-1987 he attended the Spenard-David Racing School. At age 17 he made his car racing debut in the Italian Touring Car Championship driving a Group N Alfa Romeo 33 for three rounds in 1988, obtaining an international racing licence in Andorra. He signed a three-year contract with Prema in Italian Formula Three. In 1990 he scored ten points for 14th in the Drivers' Championship. In 1991 he finished sixth overall with twenty points and three podiums. In late 1991 he finished eighth in both the Macau Grand Prix and the Formula 3 Fuji Cup. For 1992 he drove for TOM'S in Japanese Formula 3, winning three races and earning second in the Drivers' Championship with 45 points. In August 1992 he finished third in the Formula Atlantic street event at Trois-Rivières. He also tested a Group C Toyota and was mentored by Roland Ratzenberger. He accepted an invite to share a TOM'S Toyota TS010 with Eddie Irvine and Tom Kristensen at the final round of the 1992 All Japan Sports Prototype Car Endurance Championship, finishing fourth. He was fourth at the Macau Grand Prix for TOM'S. He met crew chief Barry Green and accepted a three-year contract from Green with personal sponsorship from Player's in November 1992. He raced the 1993 Atlantic Championship.

Did You Know?

• Villeneuve won the Indianapolis 500 in 1995 with Team Green.
• He became the first Canadian Formula One World Drivers' Champion in 1997.
• He drove for Renault in the final three races of the 2005 season.
• He won the 2008 1000 km of Spa driving for Peugeot.
• He was voted winner of both the Lou Marsh Trophy and the Lionel Conacher Award in 1995 and 1997.