1973
The chief instructor of the "Jim Russell race driving School" said about the student Gilles Villeneuve: "Right away I could see he was one of the rare ones. He settled right down in one of the school's racing cars and set out to go faster than anyone we had ever seen before."
1974
Gilles starts to be noticed in the Formula Atlantic. The increased power compared with the Formula Ford does not worry him, but it spurs him even more.
1974
Since his first years in the racing fields, Gilles used to spend a lot of time with his cars, as if this was his way to live in total harmony with them.
1975
Fogging of the full-faced helmets plagued everyone but not Gilles. He had duct-taped his face below his eyes to force his breath down and out through the bottom of his helmets. He had done so many times in snowmobile racing. It kept his visor clear.
1975
Villeneuve had quite good knowledge in the mechanic field and at the beginning he personally took care of the setup of his car.
1975
Gilles was very reserved towards his family. Before every race he used to say them: "Wait for me, it won't take long."
1975
June 22, his first important victory finally came, on the circuit of Gimli in the Manitoba state in Canada. He was the first, in front of Bobby Rahal.
1975
The town-circuits praised his driving features. "It's like racing on a snowmobile, but walls are made of snow there" he said.
1976
The snowmobiles mark Villeneuve had raced for the previous winter, sponsors him for a few races, then Gilles asks for a loan to his future manager Gaston Parent. In the last race of the season he can race thanks to the help of the Direct Film.
1976
Gilles achieved the respect and the esteem of his colleagues. Here he is receiving the compliments from his rival Bill Brack after another victory in the season.
1976
At Trois Rivières Gilles overworks his most titled rivals who have come from Europe to take part to the most important race in the Formula Altantic series. This will be is passport to the Formula 1.
1976
Gilles, in the pits, watches the Canadian Grand Prix intently on Mosport circuit, accompanied by his wife Joanna (on the left).
1976
His family was very important to him and always followed him on every circuit in the world. "I can't live without them" he said one day.
1976
After having shown his talent in his Country, Gilles feels he's ready for the Formula 1. He will not wait for long...
1977
Gilles reaches the Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix in Silverstone. He is eleventh at the finish line, two laps behind the winner James Hunt, but Enzo Ferrari has already noticed him and two months later Gilles is in Maranello.
1977
Here he's at his debut on the Ferrari 312T2. We are at Mosport, in Canada and Gilles has been called to replace the Austrian driver Niki Lauda, who had definitely broken his relation with the Ferrari team.
1977
Fuji circuit, in Japan: in spite of the disappointing result in practices, after his spectacular accident in race with the Ronnie Peterson's Tyrrell, Gilles is nicknamed "The aviator".
1978
Less than nine months since his first Grand Prix, six months after his joining the Ferrari team, the little Canadian is already heading a race. We are at Long Beach, but at the thirty-eighth lap a misunderstanding with Clay Regazzoni, puts him out.
1978
His first victory finally comes, just at the last race of the season, in Canada. Up to then only a few were ready to bet on the new Ferrari's driver. It's on this occasion that Gilles starts to be highly esteemed by everybody.
1978
Cold temper, occasionally aloof behavior, he seldom lost control even before important races. He went down to the pits one hour before the race and got ready for the competition. Many drivers envied this side of his character.
1978
His tracksuit and his helmet were full of sponsors. But Gilles wasn't greedy for wealth: "Money is important but I believe nobody should consider it a reason of life. If this becomes the only one interest it is better to let the races go."
1979
Fair and correct on track as in his everyday life, Villeneuve helps his teammate Jody Scheckter to get the drivers world championship.
1979
Quiet, serene, a sweet expression, Gilles was another person out of track. But during the race he changed into a giant.
1979
His way of driving has always been natural, spectacular. This is the reason why he could inflame his fans worldwide and establish with them a real love relationship in such a short time.
1979
His experience in the snowmobiles, where races took place also in terrible weather conditions, made him the master of the rain. On the wet circuits his talent was expressed at the highest levels.
1979
"As long as my car goes I drive it. I like racing to the limit, first and last."
1979
"Before the end of my career I will be able to write my name in the world championship register, but should this not happen it does not matter. I race because I like it."
1979
To show his indomitable character, Villeneuve never held himself back, even in non official competitions. At Imola, in a race not valid for the world championship, he was the main character of an heated duel with Niki Lauda, later the winner.
1980
"I race to be the first even and when I can't win, I like racing all the same, for the sake of racing. This is my job and nothing stops me. Should I not think this way I could not be a driver."
1980
An appalling season with the Ferrari 312T5: the car is a sort of update of the previous winning one, but technical development is not up to the task of its competitors. At any rate Gilles is at his best ever.
1980
"I love and respect my fans because races exist thanks to them. This is the reason why one must always give the best of himself, we are to offer our audience a real show."
1980
"I'm realistic: I make my living doing something I adore and I'm aware I get off track once or twice a year; if I don't, it means I haven't committed myself completely. Should I face an accident tomorrow and break my legs I wouldn't be surprised, I know this possibility might happen. As to the idea of killing myself I don't believe this will happen: better this way."
1980
Gilles used the American Bell helmet up to the half of the season 1979, then he definitively goes to the GPA, a French company which had already supplied several others drivers. The color changes too: from red to a lighter orange.
1981
The Ferrari turbocharged engine's season was about to start and Gilles was very much confident about the possibilities of his car. He knew it was a year of transition and development, but some results could always come too.
1981
"I know what I can and what I cannot do; I admit it, I am a bit crazy with cars but this is the way I am. I adore driving my racing car to the limit, when I race a couple of seconds slower just because I am leading, I get bored."
1981
When he was asked which was his idea about the death, Gilles seraphic answered: "I never think about it, it would be silly. When death decides to come there is nothing you can do. Mine is a dangerous job, but nowadays everything is dangerous."
1981
"I never slow down, except when I head a race. I never happened to get off a car and say: I could have tried to do better."
1981
He has surely been the most destructive driver of the Ferrari's history team, but Enzo Ferrari considered this his merit and for his impetuosity and his aggressiveness he compared Gilles to another great myth of the past: Tazio Nuvolari.
1981
June 21, Spain, Jarama circuit in Madrid. That day many drivers see him only this way.
1981
Impulsive, determined, obstinate and pugnacious to endurance, Gil in race has always been extremely correct and fair.
1982
Zolder. This is the last picture shot to the Ferrari #27, a few hundred meters before the decisive Terlamen bend where he will collide with the March of Jochen Mass.
1982
During his few years in Formula 1, Gilles Villeneuve became a charismatic figure because, each time he drove, he tested his mortality. The irony of fate is this: as a racing legend, Gil now is immortal.
