May 9, 2011





„Gilles doesn’t feel fear at all. He always drove very fast, at the very limit. He always made everything he drove go as fast as it would go.“

— Seville Villeneuve









Gilles Villeneuve: Enzo Ferrari’s favourite driver

… because he was all about PASSION , not about calculating









Once upon a time we were driving the Bastard to Quebec City. At some point I realized that I’m way too tired. We pulled over at the first exit and checked into the hotel. While checking in I’ve noticed some helmets and trophies in the corner… after couple of questions I have realized that we’ve accidentally stopped in Berthierville, where a legendary racing driver Gilles Villeneuve grew up! Needless to say, as soon as we got up the next day, we headed straight to Gilles Villeneuve Museum.

I’m happy to share some of the pictures we took at the museum. I hope they will make you feel like you’ve been there yourself.

I will use them along with the quotes that best describe this phenomenal racing driver.





Canadian fans know that Villeneuve started his career in snowmobile racing.





„Every winter there would be three or four huge flights and I know what being thrown on ice at 90 miles an hour means.“

— Gilles Villeneuve









„He came home and said: ‘I’ve sold the house to buy a car.’ “

— Joann Villeneuve









„He was the craziest devil I ever came across in Formula 1…“

— Niki Lauda, three-time World Champion









„He’s somewhat crazy, but surely a phenomenon. He’s able to do things which nobody else could achieve.“

— Nelson Piquet, three-time World Champion









„I was so fond of Villeneuve, in my eyes he was one of my family.“

— Enzo Ferrari, 1982 ( 3 years before Crazy Leo was born )









„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.“

— Gilles Villeneuve









“I look at this kid and notice he’s very animated and when he talks about racing I can see him actually vibrate.“

— Gaston Parent









„The man is a public menace.“

— Ronnie Peterson









„I like life as a Ferrari driver.“

— Gilles Villeneuve









„I know that some day I am going to have a really big crash.“

— Gilles Villeneuve









„Gilles was abnormally brave. To race against, he was the hardest bastard I ever knew, but absolutely fair. He was a giant of a driver.“

— Keke Rosberg, F1 World Champion









„I love the smell of burning rubber.“

— Gilles Villeneuve









„I know that no human being can perform miracles. But Gilles made you wonder sometimes.“

— Jacques Laffite









„He was called both a hero and an idiot for trying to continue in damaged cars.“









„My preoccupation was keeping myself alive, but Gilles had to be quickest on every lap – even in testing.“

— Jody Scheckter, F1 World Champion









„As you watched you were staggered by his natural pace , yet also a little scared for him.“

— Nigel Roebuck









At the funeral in Berthierville former team-mate 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.“













I hope you’ve enjoyed this little excursion, now please treat yourself to Gilles Villeneuve’s phenomenal race craft:









Some of the above quotes came from the “Gilles Villeneuve: the life of the legendary racing driver” by a Canadian author Gerald Donaldson.

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