The Ferrari Legends - Gilles Villeneuve Wood Print

Gilles Villeneuve caught the imagination of a generation and became a sporting legend in his own lifetime. The flamboyant and fearless style of this driver, often saw him attain good results with less than competitive machinery. Many remember Villeneuve's wheel-banging duel with René Arnoux in the last laps of the French Grand Prix in 1979. There was the win at Monaco in 1981 and in Spain the same year, keeping five quicker cars behind him for most of the race using the superior straight-line speed of the ill-handling Ferrari 126C Turbo. During the extremely wet Friday practice session for the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen in 1979 Villeneuve set a qualifying time 11 seconds faster than any other driver. Villeneuve was killed during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. At his 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.”