Villeneuve, in the Ferrari 312T3, on his way to victory in the 1979 Race of Champions at Brands Hatch.
Photo: Peter Collins
I cannot allow the twenty-fifth anniversary of the death of Gilles Villeneuve to pass unnoticed but it is, at the same time, both distressing and a pleasure to write about him. I make absolutely no apology for admitting that he was my last “hero” in Formula One racing. Nobody else since can even come close to the charm and charisma of the man who made Grand Prix cars dance to his command. Not only that, but they were Ferraris! I defy anyone to dream up a more magical combination than Villeneuve/Ferrari.
Villeneuve, in the Ferrari 312T3, leads the Brabham-Alfas of Watson and Lauda, during the 1978 USGP-West at Long Beach. Villeneuve started from the front row, but crashed on the 38th lap. Photo: David Gray
I know there will be those who will come up with Schumacher/Ferrari because he did so much for Maranello during his years there. Some Brits might even come up with the dreary Mansell/Williams combo, but none could turn an average day at the track into a totally memorable experience like Gilles.
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