Canadian Grand Prix Formula One Race

Formula One Canadian Grand Prix

The very first Canadian Grand Prix, was held in Canada in the year 1967. The Formula One race took place at the Mosport Park circuit that is located in Bowmanville (Ontario). The Canadian Grand Prix used to be alternated, with Mont Tremblant (Quebec) being the alternative circuit. Unfortunately, due to concerns in regard to safety, the Grand Prix moved to Mosport permanently, in 1971. Currently, the Grand Prix takes place in Ile Notre-Dame (Montreal), which became the home of the Canadian Grand Prix in 1978. This exciting race is the most popular Formula One Race that attracts thousands of spectators, and many more viewers. In 2005, it was recorded to be, the sport that was watched third most in the world. The race is a length of 70 laps, and a total of 305.27 kilometers.

The very first Canadian Grand Prix winner, at the new location in Montreal, was Gilles Villeneuve. He was native to Quebec, but died tragically on a qualifying lap, during the Belgian Grand Prix, in 1982. Villeneuve was honored a few weeks later, with the Montreal race course being named the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. With the start of the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix, already clouded by the memory of Gilles Villeneuve, was the scene to another very tragic event. Didier Pironi, the teammate of Gilles Villeneuve, had stalled his car on the grid. The stationary Pironi, was clipped by Raul Boesel and his car was then hit from behind by Riccardo Paletti. Paletti’s car had briefly caught alight, and Pironi and Sid Watkins, the F1 doctor, frantically struggled to free Paletti from his car. It took a half hour to get Paletti out of the wreck, who was then flown to a hospital. Unfortunately, Paletti did not survive, due to the severity of his injuries.

Another significant accident took place at the Canadian Grand Prix in 1997. A massive accident, with Olivier Panis also involved, stopped the race just a few laps in. Panis broke his legs during this incident that caused him to sit on the sidelines for nine race meetings. Many have said that this was the turning point in Olivier Panis’s career, and a heartbreaking time for the winner of the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix.

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve became famous in 1996, when former world champions Michael Schumacher, Jacques Villeneuve and Damon Hill were caught out. All three champs crashed into a wall that read: “Bienvenue au Quebec” or in English it reads ‘Welcome to Quebec’. The wall was to become known as the ‘Wall of Champions’. Ricardo Zonta, the then reigning champ, also collided with the wall.

The Canadian Grand Prix did not make it onto the F1 schedule for 2004. A maximum of seventeen races was implemented, new venues came to the forefront, and the new tobacco legislation saw the cancellation of sponsors. But with the FIA expanding to an eighteen race racing schedule and the confidence of the Canadian Officials, the Canadian Grand Prix will not be off the schedule for much longer.