Although it now carries a famous driver’s name, the track on Montreal’s Île Notre-Dame, a man-made island in the middle of the Saint Lawrence River in Canada, started out as the Île Notre-Dame Circuit. Builders finished it in 1978, just in time for the Canadian Grand Prix to leave its two previous venues, Mosport Park in Ontario and Mont-Tremblant in Quebec, because of safety concerns.
Hometown hero Gilles Villeneuve won the inaugural Grand Prix in Montreal for Scuderia Ferrari, so the race quickly became a regular feature on the Formula 1 calendar. At first it ran in late September, but in 1982 organisers moved it to mid-June to give fans a warmer, more pleasant race weekend.
After Gilles Villeneuve died in 1982, organisers renamed the circuit in his honour. He was the father of Jacques Villeneuve. Moreover, the track has hosted many great races, which cements its reputation as a truly unpredictable venue.
The race dropped off the calendar in 2009, when the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix replaced it, but it returned in 2010. Then in 2011 the Canadian Grand Prix became the longest world championship Grand Prix ever, lasting more than four hours because of a long delay on a rainy day.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Track
The lap is a sequence of long straights that link heavy-braking chicanes and a well-known hairpin, so braking, traction and kerb riding matter more than outright downforce. Also, the surface has little grip at the start of the weekend, but it improves as more cars run.
Turn 10 is the Hairpin Curve, a 180-degree turn that needs full steering lock. Depending on the line a driver takes into it, overtaking can happen on the exit or at the apex. Turns 12 and 13 then form the long straight after the hairpin, which offers one of the best overtaking opportunities on the lap.
Besides, the Wall of Champions stands on the outside of the exit of the final chicane, at Turn 14, just before the start-finish straight, and its slogan reads ‘Bienvenue au Québec’ (Welcome to Quebec). It got its nickname in 1999, when three world champions, Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve, all ended their races by going too close to it.
For example, the circuit has seen various layout and safety changes over the years. As Formula 1 cars became faster, organisers replaced the older tyre barriers with more advanced Tecpro barriers, and they modified the angle of the exit of the last chicane.
Overall, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve covers 4.361 kilometres (2.710 miles) with 14 corners, and the race lasts 70 laps.
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Fast Facts
| Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Fast Facts | |
|---|---|
| Detail | Information |
| Grand Prix | Canadian Grand Prix |
| Circuit | Circuit Gilles Villeneuve |
| Location | Montreal, Canada |
| Lap Length | 4.361 km (2.710 miles) |
| Number Of Laps | 70 |
| Race Distance | 305.270 km (189.686 miles) |
| Number Of Corners | 14 |
| First Grand Prix | 1978 |
Conclusion
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve stands out for long straights, heavy braking zones and the Wall of Champions, so it often produces unpredictable races. For everything else, including race times, session times, results and official notices, visit our Formula 1 section, the Formula 1 website and the FIA website.
Questions People Ask
Where Is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve?
It is on the Île Notre-Dame in Montreal, Canada, so the lap runs around an island in the Saint Lawrence River.
How Long Is the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve?
One lap is 4.361 km (2.710 miles), so a full race of 70 laps adds up to 305.270 km (189.686 miles).
How Many Laps Does the Canadian Grand Prix Have?
The race lasts 70 laps, so the cars cover 305.270 km (189.686 miles) in total.
How Many Corners Does the Montreal Circuit Have?
The lap has 14 corners, but the hairpin and the straight after it offer the best chances to pass.
When Did Formula 1 First Race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve?
The first Formula 1 race here took place in 1978, when Gilles Villeneuve won for Ferrari.
Why Does the Circuit Carry Gilles Villeneuve’s Name?
It carries the name of Gilles Villeneuve, the Canadian driver who won his first Grand Prix here in 1978 and died in 1982.
What Is the Wall of Champions?
It is the wall on the exit of the final chicane, and it caught several world champions over the years, so it earned its nickname.
