05/04/2006
NEWS STORY
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The San Marino Grand Prix weekend, which takes place on April 21-23, will witness a celebration of the career of the legendary Ferrari driver, Gilles Villeneuve.
The ANSA new agency has revealed that a square in the town centre at Imola will be renamed after the legendary racer, whose last F1 race was at the Italian circuit in 1982.
The 1982 San Marino Grand Prix witnessed an epic battle between Gilles and his Ferrari teammate Didier Pironi, the Frenchman eventually winning the race. However, Villeneuve was angry that his teammate had reneged on a previous agreement and stolen the win.
Ironically, the race came at the height of the FISA/FOCA war, and consequently just 14 cars were entered for the event, which has come close to being cancelled.
On the podium, Villeneuve's face was like thunder, and he vowed never to speak to Pironi again. Two weeks later the Canadian was killed in qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder, when he hit the rear of Jochen Mass' March, which was travelling much slower.
Although Gilles won just 6 Grand Prix, he is still remembered as one of the greatest racers in the history of the sport, a man who would give everything for that extra one-thousandth of a second, a man for whom every lap was a mini-Grand Prix.
Recently it was revealed that a movie is to be made about his life, and is scheduled for release in 2007. Consequently, the San Marino tribute is timely.
In addition to a number of his race cars, race fans will be able to see paintings of the Ferrari legend, at a special exhibition at the former Buon Pastore church.
Gilles' widow, Joanne, will attend the renaming ceremony, as will her son, 1997 World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve, who now drives for BMW Sauber.
A special tribute to a real legend.