Formula One is coming to Canada! Brace for yourself and enjoy the sound of humming engines, passionate and diligent performances of pit crews, and the glamour and flair of F1 drivers and their teams at the Grand Prix Du Canada on June 13, 2010 at Circuit Gilles-Villenueve. Let us take a tour of Canada's most famous Circuit-Gilles Villenueve.
Circuit-Gilles Villenueve is one of the most demanding Grand Prix circuit in F1. It is 4.361 km long and runs for 70 laps with total race length of 305.270 km. The circuit is well-known for its tricky hairpin bends and a kilometer-long straight. The F1 race circuit is famous for its "Wall of Champions" wherein most drivers victimized by the chicane at the end of the high-speed straight. In 1999, three world champions Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villenueve made costly errors in negotiating the chicane.
Circuit-Gilles Villenueve is divided into three sectors embed with difficult corners and a high-speed long straight off the grandstand. In the first sector of the circuit, the race cars are siphon from the grid at Turn 2 known as Senna Curve. This section is notorious for major accidents especially at the start of the race. The portion of this track has claimed numerous cars in the past races. Even the most steady and famous F1 drivers suffer their fate in this treacherous turn.
The start of Sector 3 will put the drivers on the defensive stance with right-hand bend on Turn 10 trapping the speed of the race car to an average speed of 56 km/h. The car will build up speed to 316 km/h on gear 7 racing across the Droit Du Casino. A trap speed on Turn 12 and 13 will slow down the car to 134 km/h on gear 2. The car will race toward the starting grid/finish line at 294 km/h.
The race circuit was named in honor of its maiden Formula One winner the late French-Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve who won in 1978. Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most win in this circuit. Ferrari holds the distinction as the most successful constructor with 13 wins. In 2008, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton has the pole position but lost the race to BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica. Rubens Barrichello holds the lap record of 1:13.622 he established in 2004 aboard his Ferrari.
In 2009, the Canadian Grand Prix was not included in F1's calendar due to a failed deal with F1 big boss Bernie Ecclestone. The Canadian government refused to pay the increased fee on the renewal of contract to hold the race at Circuit-Gilles Villenueve.
The race circuit has claimed many famous race car drivers on its tricky bends and turns. In the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix, Olivier Panis was involved in a major crash that stopped the race. World Champions Damon Hill, Jacques Villenueve and Michael Schumacher crashed all together in the now famous "Wall of Champions". Ricardo Zonta, the reigning FIA GT sports car champion that time, crashed also in the same wall. Other notable F1 racers claimed by the Wall include Nico Rosberg and Juan Pablo Montoya.
In the Turkish Grand Prix, Red Bull teammates Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel were involved in a crash which resulted to losing the Constructors Championship lead to the McLarens. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button had their own share of close contact but hold on to win the race.
Circuit-Gilles Villenueve and its Wall of Champion now wait the next F1 driver to kiss its wall barrier again in the upcoming Grand Prix Du Canada.
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