In the 1981 Grand Prix the Canadian obtained his last victory on the circuit before dying in an accident.
This weekend the Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prixwhich will take place on the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit, but more than 40 years ago one of the most emotional races ever run on Spanish soil took place, which Canadian Gilles Villeneuve would end up winning.
Villeneuve was not one of the main candidates to win, and started in seventh position on the starting gridbut an excellent movement at the start immediately took him to third place, thus putting himself in the discussion for victory.
To make matters worse, before finishing the first flight of the Spanish GP he overtook the Argentine Carlos Reutemann to position second, remaining only behind the Australian Alan Jones, who had started second but had already passed Jacques Laffite, one of those who would star in an exciting finale. along with the Canadian.
On lap 14 of the 80 that the Jarama Circuit had, Villeneuve took the lead and he did not relinquish first position but during the rest of the race he had to fight with the approaches of his pursuers who were constantly trying to pass him.
The Ferrari driver crossed the checkered flag before anyone else and ended up staying with the Spanish GP, without knowing at the time that it would be his last victory in Formula 1. Behind him were Jacques Laffite from Ligier-Matra (+0′ 211) and McLaren-Ford’s John Watson (+0’571) to complete the podium, while Argentinian Reutemann finished fourth (+1,011).
Gilles Villeneuve died a year later as a result of an accident at 230 km/h caused by a collision with Jochen Mass’s March car during qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix in Zolder, leaving an enormous legacy within the circuit that saw him fired at just 32 years of age. In fact, his son Jacques was crowned Formula 1 champion in 1997, and is the only Canadian driver to win the championship in history.
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