Track history: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The venue for the upcoming Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located on Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the St. Lawrence River that is a part of Montreal, Quebec. The circuit is named after the first race victor, late Gilles Villeneuve.
Originally constructed as a venue for Expo '67, the island lay dormant for nine years until the 1976 Olympic Games. When Mosport, the old F1 track, became unsuitable for high-speed racing, Roger Peart stepped in to design the then Circuit Nôtre-Dame which served as the venue for the penultimate race of the '78 season - where Canadian racing icon Gilles Villeneuve captured first place honours. Renamed in Villeneuve's honour after his untimely death in 1982, the track has become one of the most relaxed and enjoyable on the circuit.
Popular with F1 drivers, the track is characterised by high speed straights, hairpin turns and the need for a lot of steering which makes it a true test of endurance and concentration. A particularly infamous aspect of the course is the wall that lies just outside of the exit on the final chicane. Sporting the slogan Welcome to Quebec this wall claimed three Formula One World Champions in 1999 alone.
The track saw some initial modifications after the inaugural race, and would be upgraded in 1987 after a sponsorship dispute between Labatt and Molson brought about a cancellation of that year's race. Due to accidents and driver suggestions, the track has also been modified in 1988 and most recently in 2002.
Generally one of the quietest places in Montreal, Île Notre-Dame is a safe haven for joggers, cyclists and animals. Rabid F1 fans annually transform the idyllic landscape into a hub of frenetic energy with last year's Grand Prix attracting a record breaking 336,000 fans for the three day event.
The only track on the F1 circuit to host both F1 and CART races using the same layout, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is always a unique and exciting circuit on the motorsport calendar.
Circuit Length: 4.361 km
Number of Laps: 70
Race Distance: 305.270 km
