Classic Canadian Grand Prix moments
Formula One will make a welcome return to Canada this weekend after a year off the calendar.
The race track is famous for the barrier on the final chicane, named the “wall of champions,” after the several world champions who have crashed into it.
The circuit was renamed the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve after Canadian Gilles Villeneuve, the father of 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, following his death in 1982. Villeneuve Snr drove for McLaren and Ferrari for five years during his brief Formula One career, which tragically came to an end at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The circuit is built on a man-made island between St Lawrence River and St Lawrence Seaway. The first Canadian Grand Prix took place in 1978, and it was Villeneuve who won the race, much to the delight of the home support.
Now, there is no Villeneuve taking part, or any Canadian Formula One driver to please the home crowd, but down the years, there have been some classic moments. Here are just a few of them.
1991
Allegedly, Nigel Mansell threw away the race victory after he stalled his engine while waving to the crowd, letting his revs go too low. It was reported by the Williams F1 team that Mansell suffered a late gearbox problem, and did not inflict the problem on himself.
1998
This race will be remembered for Alex Wurz’s spectacular crash heading towards the first corner on the first lap. The Austrian found himself in between cars and was unable to brake. Consequently, he crashed into Jean Alesi, and his car was sent rolling. The race was red-flagged and had to be restarted. Wurz hopped into the spare car and amazingly finished the race in fourth, which was won by Michael Schumacher.
1999
Mika Häkkinen delivered the win for McLaren, but the race saw former world champions Schumacher, Damon Hill and Villeneuve crash into the barrier at the final chicane, and this was where the name the “wall of champions” was born.
2007
Robert Kubica had a miraculous escape after suffering a horrific accident, crashing into a wall at over 185mph after contact with another car. His front wing was forced under the car by the impact and, when he hit a bump on the grass, his car flew in the air and Kubica lost control. His car was wrecked, but amazingly he only suffered bruising and concussion. (Pictured above) A journalist asked Kubica a week later whether he had the chance to see the accident on television, and the Pole jokingly replied: “I have also seen it live when I was there.”
2008
The last time a Formula One race was here, it was won in extraordinary circumstances. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) had poled, with Kubica (BMW Sauber) and Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) in second and third. The race began, and when the safety car had come out for the first time and returned to the pits, most of the drivers followed to make their first stop. Raikkonen’s stop was the quickest, and he exited his box ahead of Kubica and Hamilton. However, at the end of the pitlane, the red lights were on, and while Raikkonen and Kubica stopped, Hamilton failed to see the signal and smashed into the back of the Ferrari, forcing both drivers to retire. Kubica would go on and score his only race victory.
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