Jacques Villeneuve

Biography

 

Born: 9 April 1971 (That makes him 27!)

Birthplace: St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada

Lives: Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Family: Father - Gilles, Ferrari driver, killed during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix in 1982, Mother - Joann(e?), lives in Monaco, Sister - Melanie, student, lives in Montreal

Height: 1.68 m- 5ft 6ins

Weight: 66.68kgs- 147lbs

Marital Status: Single, girlfriend Sandrine

Hobbies: Alpine skiing, music, reading, roller blading, movies, Computers

Favourite food: Pasta

Favourite Drink: Root beer and milk

First drove a car: Aged five years

First racing machine: 8Occ Motocross bike when he was ten years old

First Victory: 1992 at Nishi Sendai, Japan. Runner up in the All Japan Formula 3 Championship

Team address: Winfield Williams Mecachrome, Basil Hill Road, Didcot, Oxfordshire, Berks OX11 7HW, England

Team telephone & fax: 0044-235-815161 & 0044-235-816176

He says: "If I can win in IndyCars I don't see why I shouldn't win in F1."

They say: "Frank Williams was bullied into signing him and is taking a massive gamble."

Don't mention: How it feels to be the son of Gilles Villeneuve.

 

Biography

 

1982: Father Gilles killed during qualifying for 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder when driving for Ferrari.

1986: Attended Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in Canada.

1987: Drove a Formula Ford 2000 at Spenard-David Racing School in Canada.

1988: Left boarding school in Switzerland to pursue racing career. Competed in three races in the Alfa Italian Touring Car Championship.

1989: Competed in Italian F3 Championship for Reynard.

1990: Finished 14th in Italian F3 Championship driving a Reynard Alfa Romeo.

1991: Finished sixth (20 points) in Italian F3 Championship in a Ralt-Alfa Romeo.

1992: Competed in Japanese F3 for Team Tom's Toyota, winning three times to finish second in championship. Finished ninth in F3 race in Monaco, third in the GP Player's Ltee de Trois-Rivieres race in Canada.

1993: Finished third in Atlantic Series for Forsythe-Green Racing. Named Rookie of the Year after scoring five wins and seven pole positions.

1994: Switched to IndyCar series with Forsythe-Green, finishing sixth in championship with 94 points. First win at Elkhart Lake. Named Rookie of the Year for Championship and Indy 500, where he was second.

1995: Became youngest ever winner (and first Canadian) of IndyCar title with Team Green. Won Indy 500 (after being penalised two laps). Three other wins plus six poles and six track records. Signed for Williams Formula One team for following year after successful test session at Silverstone.

1996: Finished second in F1 championship with 78 points after losing out in final race to team-mate Damon Hill. Maiden victory in European Grand Prix at Nurburgring. Also won in Britain, Hungary and Portugal. Took pole position on his debut in Australia.

1997: Won in Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Britain, Hungary, Austria and Germany (staging the Luxembourg GP), but it was his third place in the final race clinched his first F1 title ahead of Michael Schumacher. 

 

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