On May 8, 1982, Gilles Villeneuve left us

Since the start of the weekend, the tension has been palpable within the Team Ferrari. Two weeks earlier, during the San Marino Grand Prix, at Imola, Didier Pironi committed the irreparable in the eyes of his friend Gilles Villeneuve.

While the two friends had won the race and the stand had given them the “slow” sign (slow down in French. Editor's note) because they both risked running out of fuel, the Frenchman had ignored the instruction and overtaken his Canadian friend. . What followed was a bitter battle concluded by a final overtaking of the Habs.

This Saturday, May 8 in Zolder, during the qualifying session, when the Quebecer sees that Pironi has taken the best after improving his time, his blood only boils and he asks to get back on the track.

“He wouldn’t have made it, confided years later Mauro Forghieri, who was then its technical director. His tires were dead! Before he set off again with this terrible determination in his eyes, I said to him: “But what are you doing? Stay calm ! » He didn't listen. »

The March of Jochen Mass, who precedes him on the track, is preparing to return to his stand. The German, then in slow motion, did not want to hinder the Ferrari driver's attempt. But at the top of the climb, he changes trajectory to clear the way just as Gilles is about to overtake him from the outside. The shock was terrible and the pilot was ejected from his cockpit.

In the paddock is someone close to Gilles Villeneuve: journalist Christian Tortora, who then worked for Canadian radio CKAC. “Suddenly, everything went silent, he told us by telephone from Montreal, where he is confined.

Not the slightest engine noise, not the slightest sound coming from the speakers. Absolute silence! Sensing something serious, I rushed to the press room, where the images of the accident were playing in a loop. It was Gilles!

 I immediately went to the Ferrari stand. Pironi was taking off his helmet, he continued. When he saw me, he came to me and said: “It’s serious! ". I went back to the press room, not knowing what to do.

Before announcing to the whole country that Gilles had just had a very serious accident, I had to call his parents. I was the only link they had with their son in Zolder, his wife Joann having remained in Monaco with the children.

I called Georgette to tell her that Gilles had been transferred to the hospital, that it was serious and that I would call her back a little later! I made my first intervention on the airwaves and everything came together. Joann called me and I told her what I didn't know much about at that moment.

I went back down to Ferrari where Marco Piccinini (Team Principal. Editor's note) told me that he had been taken to the Louvain hospital. Given the seriousness of his injuries, he was quickly transferred to Brussels, where I went.

Then Joann arrived. We were taken to Gilles’ bedside. He didn't have a single scratch, but his spinal cord was unfortunately severed. Breathing machines were connected, his heart was still beating…

The Belgian surgeon who took care of him knew that one of the world's leading authorities in neurology was working in Quebec, whom he contacted. They stayed on the phone for two hours. On the radio, I said: "If they're talking, there's hope! » He was my friend, I refused to assume the worst.

Late, I'm not sure what time, the doctors asked Joann for permission to disconnect the devices that were keeping him alive..."

It was at 21:12 p.m. that he was pronounced dead. “Too devastated to make the slightest decision, Joann went back to Monaco and I found myself alone for the formalities, continues the man who, years later, had the joy of seeing the son complete the father's work by becoming world champion.

It was hard. We had to organize everything, coordinate everything with the Canadian government for the repatriation of the body. Four days were necessary to obtain all the authorizations, such as that to cross French airspace which, for the record, was signed by the President of the Republic at the time, François Mitterrand.

The plane was a military Boeing 707. Joann, the children – Jacques and Mélanie -, Jody Scheckter, Marco Piccinini and I traveled in what must have been the space reserved for officers. At Dorval airport in Montreal, the aircraft stopped near gate 27, number of car by Gilles! »

A number which, 38 years later, remains attached to the Quebec tightrope walker. A number that the FIA ​​should consider retiring so that it remains its own forever.