While I wasn’t alive to see him race, I’ve read about and seen enough of his career to know how fabulous Gilles Villeneuve was.
Today, 25 years ago, Formula One lost one of its greatest ever exponents, a man whose modest record belied an impact on the sport so profound that his memory lives on today. He combined the best qualities of Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna and Juan Pablo Montoya – a dazzling talent, an unquenchable spirit and desire, and a magnetic charisma that attracted millions of fans. He also possessed an honesty and honour from a bygone age – traits which were to be contributing factors in his death.
That man was Gilles Villeneuve, whose brief but glorious career was ended on 8 May 1982, in a horrific accident during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder.
This review of his life sums up just what made him a great driver. (BBC Sport)
