MONTREAL - CIRCUIT GILLES VILLENEUVE 

Overview

The Gilles Villeneuve circuit, named after Jacques Villeneuve's father (who lost his life in a crash during practice for the 1982 Belgian GP at Zolder), is the setting for the Canadian Grand Prix.

Built on a man-made island in the middle of the St Lawrence Seaway, the circuit at Montreal is an amalgam of track and street. It's very fast, bordered by two sharp hairpins at either end and invariably races here are exciting.  It has long high-speed straights and tight chicanes. Unfortunately the track it self is not as appealing as the surroundings. The city of Montreal is one big race fest with all bars, restaurants and clubs filled with race fans.

Specifications:

• Starting time: 19:00 CET
• Local time: CET -6 hours
• First GP: 1978
• Circuit length: 4.361 km
• Race laps: 70 laps
• Total distance: 305.27 km
• Winner 2008: Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber
• Fastest lap: Rubens Barichello, 2004 - Ferrari 1:13.622 

History:

In 1978 the Grand Prix of Canada came to Montreal, installed on the site of 1967 Expo and the 1976 Summer Olympic Games, on a man-made island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.

In 1982 the circuit was renamed in honour of Gilles Villeneuve, the very popular Canadian driver, who died during practice for the Belgium GP that year and who had won the first F1 race held on the Ile Notre Dame circuit in 1978. Because of its excellent infrastructures, it is a popular event on the Formula One calendar.

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