Jacques Villeneuve

Inducted 2017

Born in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, our inductee grew up in Monaco where his parents Gilles and Joann lived the dream of his famous father – racing in Formula One for Ferrari.

He first stepped into a kart three years after his father died in a qualifying crash a the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix, and began to create his own racing legend.

After racing in Formula 3 in Italy and Japan, he returned to North America to try his hand at Formula Atlantic with Forsythe/Green Racing. 5 wins in 15 starts and 3rd overall in the 1993 championship earned him a spot with the Forsythe/Green CART IndyCar team the next season.

It was a partnership that delivered the 1995 CART championship and a sensational victory in that year’s Indianapolis 500, recovering from 2 laps down early in the race.

A move to Formula One in 1996 brought more success with a pole in his very first F-1 race, and a 2nd place finish in his debut race after an oil leak slowed his progress.

A year later, our inductee became the first Canadian to win a Formula One World Driving Championship, in a dramatic show-down with Ferrari’s Michael Shumacher.

With his F-1 title he became one of only 3 drivers to win the CART Championship, the Indianapolis 500 and a Formula One World Championship, joining Emerson Fittipaldi and Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame International inductee Mario Andretti.

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SINCE 1993

The Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame has inducted 328 individuals and organizations in recognition of their accomplishments and contributions to Canadian motorsports. These men, women, and organizations have earned the honour of being part of the Hall of Fame.

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