CIAS 2017: GPF1 CANADA 50 YEARS


A SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY ON THE MENU


CIAS 2017: Ferrari Gilles Villeneuve 1978 first victory car

TEXTS AND PICTURES BY ALAIN LEMIRE

 PUBLISHED ON FEBRUARY, 23 2017

Another special attraction at the Toronto Auto Show was the commemorative exhibit on the 50th anniversary of the Canadian Grand Prix.

 

Having seen last year's expo on the 100th anniversary of the 500 miles of Indianapolis, I expected to have something similar.


honoring the villeneuve family


There were 8 cars to be seen, 2 of which are particularly interesting from the point of view of the history of the Villeneuve clan who took the opportunity to present us never seen pictures of their personal collection signed "Villeneuve Automotive Museum", a nomenclature that will be explained on another publication.

 


1961 cooper t-51

CIAS 2017 - COOPER T-51 1961

The oldest one of the single-seaters on display was a 1961 Cooper T-51, led by Bruce McLaren (8th in the 1961 Drivers' Championship), representing the period 1961-1966 during which an F1 race was done in Canada and was not officialised by the FIA. 

 

It was not until 1967, at the 100th anniversary of Confederation, that the Grand Prix of Canada was officially added to the Formula 1 world championship FIA calendar.


1975 vel's parnelli jones racing

CIAS 2017: 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 IN CANADA - MARIO ANDRETTI - VEL'S PARNELLI JONES

During the 1970s, Formula 1 had a look of a big-tire car and a big air intake located just above the pilot seats.

 

The single-seater of the Vel's Parnelli Jones team was entrusted to Mario Andretti, who was racing his first full season in Formula 1, finishing in 14th place in the drivers' championship in 1975.


1977 wolf racing, a canadian f1 single seater

CIAS 2017 : 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 IN CANADA - WOLF RACING - JODY SCHECKTER

In 1977, a newly formed Canadian-owned team entered the F1 circus, Walter Wolf Racing. The only car was entrusted to the pilot Jody Schekter.

 

Wolf Racing won the first race of the season and the last Canadian Grand Prix raced in Mosport that same year.


1978 ferrari 312 t3

CIAS 2017: Ferrari Gilles Villeneuve 1978 first victory car

The most memorable of the cars that Gilles Villeneuve drove is the Ferrari 312 T3, the one with which he had his first victory in F1 during the Canadian Grand Prix.

 

Villeneuve finished the season in 9th place in the drivers' championship in 1978.

 

What a great way to start with an all canadian victory over the new Montreal circuit!


1987 Lotus 99t

CIAS 2017 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 IN CANADA - LOTUS 99T - AYRTON SENNA

First of the the 1980's F1 race cars on display, the Lotus 99T 1987 driven by Ayrton Senna, a pilot called the magician, will only be the shadow of what it was in 1986.

 

Senna will finish the season in 3rd place of the drivers' championship in 1987.

 

The Grand Prix of Canada was not run in 1987 due to a dispute between two sponsors.


1989 ferrari 640

CIAS 2017: 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 IN CANADA - FERRARI - NIGEL MANSELL

Nigel Mansell was driving a Scuderia Ferrari single-seater in 1989 and 1990. His Canadian races ended in disqualification in 1989 and 3rd place in 1990.

 

Mansel finished 4th in the 1989 championship with the 640 and 5th in the 1990 with the Ferrari 641.


1992 benneton b192

CIAS 207: 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 IN CANADA - BENNETON FORD - MICHAEL SCHUMACHER

1992 saw the appearance of the next magician who will be called the "Kaiser", a German driver name Michael Schumacher.

 

He arrives at Benneton Ford after a race with the Jordan racing team. A glorious career began, winning 2 championships in 1994 and 1995.

 

Schumacher finished the Montreal race in second position and climbed to the 3rd level of the championship of the drivers championship of 1992.


1997 william fw19

CIAS 2017: 50 YEARS OF FORMULA 1 IN CANADA - WILLIAM FW19 - JACQUES VILLENEUVE

Last but not least is the William FW19 with which Jacques Villeneuve won the drivers' championship in 1997. 

 

Villeneuve took the start of the Grand Prix du Canada in 2nd place on the grid and was involved in an accident during the second lap of the race.


A RISKY HIT

 

There is even the scratch left by the Schumacher wheel at the last Grand Prix of the season held in Jerez, Spain.

 

The championship was decided during that historic race with the 3 first drivers o the grid getting the exact same qualification time.



the 2017 canadian grand prix trophy

The current Canadian Grand Prix trophy is composed of 8 copies of the Gilles Villeneuve circuit layout cut from a metal plate and circularly assembled on a cylindrical wooden base.



some other links to look at...



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about lemire auto media's editor

Alain Lemire

Since 2014 from Laval, Canada, Alain Lemire has managed a specialized website that shows his passion about classic, modern, and exotic cars and write about their history.

 

An image creator specialist

As a photographer and automotive portraitist, he uses his artistic knowledge to create stunning images restoring the ambiance of a world-class nationals US events, prestigious Concours d'Élégance, and auto shows.

 

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