The 40th anniversary of the death of Gilles Villeneuve | 40 years ago, the death of a champion

At that time, there were few Quebeckers who shone on the international scene. That was before the emergence of Celine Dion, before the strokes of genius of the creators of Cirque du Soleil, before the multiple podiums obtained by our Olympic athletes, before the initiatives outside the borders of our most audacious entrepreneurs.

It was barely 40 years ago, a drop of water in our long history. But in terms of successes abroad, it seems almost a century. This is why this young man from Berthierville fascinated his compatriots so much.

Intrepid, unaware of fear, ready to run all the risks, convinced of having his place among the best in the world, he was already announcing the Quebec of tomorrow, even if we did not yet fully realize it.

Three years earlier, however, it would have taken a strong imagination to think that Gilles Villeneuve would soon capture the attention of the whole world. That his love of speed would make him the darling of motor racing. That his indomitable passion would lead him to the highest echelons of his sport. That the famous Enzo Ferrari, founder of the most famous brand in the industry, would develop a warm affection for him.

Three years earlier, Gilles was in fact only one of those tripe of engines and gearboxes, which “patented” its cars to gain a second per lap in races followed by a handful of enthusiasts. And when winter arrived, he and his comrades satisfied their thirst for thrills by competing on snowmobiles.

In the media, the greatness and misery of their competitions passed far behind the covers of the Canadiens, the Expos, the Alouettes and even horse racing. But that in no way diminished their momentum. They did not practice their sport in the hope of achieving fame, but because the desire to go even faster and achieve a spectacular overtaking flowed through their veins.

In September 1976, a key event occurred in Gilles’ career. He crowned an exceptional season by winning the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières, a Formula Atlantic race in which Formula 1 driver James Hunt took part. Hunt was impressed by the skill of the young Quebecer. Back in Europe, he evokes the talent of Gilles. His name then began to circulate across the Atlantic.

As a result, Gilles receives an invitation from the McLaren team. The following July, he lined up at the start of the British Grand Prix. Sat 11^and place does not convince the bosses. Is this the end of his adventure in Formula 1? Not at all ! The sequence of things is preposterous: Ferrari entrusts him with the wheel for the last two races of the season.

Four years ago, Normand Legault, long promoter of the Canadian Grand Prix, told me how this news had been received in Europe: “The Italian press was not kind to Enzo Ferrari. Journalists wondered who this guy was who drove snowmobiles. In their minds, driving a Ferrari must have been a consecration…”

With his pugnacity on the track and his simplicity in everyday life, Gilles was quickly “consecrated”. In 1978, he won his first Formula 1 victory on the Île Notre-Dame circuit, which today bears his name. On the podium, he celebrates his victory by dismissing the traditional magnum of champagne and instead uncorks a magnum of… Labatt 50! No, he has not forgotten his first sponsors, those who believed in him when he needed them most.

Over the next few months, legions of fans around the world savored his daredevil style. Gilles only wants one thing: to win, always win.

This furious ride ends on May 8, 1982, 40 years ago today. During the qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix on the Zolder circuit, Gilles, knife between his teeth, hit the car of German Jochen Mass while he was traveling at 270 km/h.

In The Pressthe tragedy is described as follows: “Villeneuve’s car flew away […] before crashing off-road. Villeneuve, 32, suffered a broken neck and never regained consciousness. »

At the hospital, where he was transported by helicopter, the doctors try to avoid the worst, without success. Gilles passed away soon after.

The news of his accident, then of his death, upsets Quebec. Like so many others, I still remember how I learned the news: a radio flash in the car on this spring Saturday afternoon…

The poignant testimonies follow one another over the following days. “I’ve been dreading this moment for seven years,” says his wife, Joann, who is worried about her children. At the time, Jacques, who would later become Formula 1 world champion, and his sister Mélanie were not yet teenagers.

Gilles’ remains were repatriated to Quebec aboard a National Defense plane. The funeral takes place the following Wednesday in Berthier. Thousands and thousands of people gather in the small municipality for the final farewell. The Prime Ministers of Canada and Quebec, Pierre Elliott Trudeau and René Lévesque, attend the ceremony.

Seville Villeneuve, Gilles’ father, told the Canadian Press journalist: “My wife and I are very proud to have given a champion to Quebec. But since the death of Gilles, we have lived above all this brutal separation. Since Saturday, my wife and I have talked little, we only had to look at each other to understand each other. »

Sevilla Villeneuve has found the right words. His son was a champion for Quebec. A great, very great champion. A champion who left at the height of his career. His death caused an immense shock, like a clap of thunder that resonated throughout Quebec.

The passage of time does not erase the pain felt on that day in May 1982. But hindsight shows us to what extent, well beyond sport, Gilles was a precursor for Quebec. Driven by his dream, he fought to succeed. His example remains an inspiration.