Jacques Villeneuve Sr.

Jacques-Joseph Villeneuve, born 4 November 1953 in Berhierville, Québec, is a former Canadian racing driver. He’s the brother of the regretted Gilles Villeneuve, and the uncle of 1997 Formula One World Champion, Jacques Villeneuve. He tried, without succeeding, to qualify for three F1 races.

Just like Gilles, he first thrives in snowmobile races, but decides to switch in 1976 to motor racing. In 1978, he debuts in Formula Ford, and becomes “rookie of the year” in Formula Atlantic in 1979, before winning this championship in 1980 and 1981.

Following in the footsteps of Gilles, who gradually acquired a super star status in F1, Jacques Sr. also tries his luck in Formula One, but in 1981 he doesn’t succeed to qualify his Arrows for the Canadian and US Grand Prix.

Jacques Villeneuve Sr. doesn’t find a F1 drive for the 1982 season and decides to stay in North America and compete in the CanAm series. Despite his brother’s death in May 1982, Jacques pursues his career and wins the CanAm championship in 1983. That same year, he again tries his luck in Formula 1, but he again fails to qualify his modest RAM for the Canadian Grand Prix.

In 1984, Jacques Villeneuve Sr. participates in the CART championship and in 1985 he takes his first win in the series at Elkhart Lake (nine years later, his nephew Jacques Villeneuve also took his first win in the series on the same race track). He becomes the first Canadian racing driver to win a race in this series.