1977, the F1 debut of Gilles Villeneuve

This article can be found in our Collector Gilles Villeneuve. 104 pages that retrace the Canadian's career! It is available in our online store in version paper.

September 1976. Alerted by James Hunt on his return from Trois-Rivières, Teddy Mayer contacted Gilles Villeneuve, who flew to England to meet the boss of McLaren. He talks about the 1977 season with him, his desire to race in F2 before tackling the F1. It is almost with his eyes closed and without negotiating the price that he signs the contract handed to him. This remains quite elusive, but the Canadian hope hopes to carry out tests and compete in four or five Grands Prix the following year. His manager Gaston Parent would have liked his driver not to rush in like this, because Brabham and Wolf were also interested. A possibility of starting in F1 at the 1976 Canadian Grand Prix was even mentioned, but Gilles did not appreciate the personality of Bernie Ecclestone and preferred to sign with a top team than with Wolf, who was then scouring the back of the grid with its renamed ex-Hesketh Williams.