F1'S GREATEST DRIVERS - AUTOSPORT persuaded 217 world championship Formula 1 heroes to vote for the all-time greates driver

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GILLES VILLENEUVE

CANADA

Gilles Villeneuve

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Gilles Villeneuve won only six of his 67 grands prix and has not a single world championship to his name. History, though, goes beyond numbers and will remember the diminutive French Canadian as one of the sport's greatest competitors.

Perhaps Villeneuve's finest moment was his performance in a sodden practice session for the US Grand Prix East at Watkins Glen in 1979. His Ferrari team-mate Jody Scheckter, the new world champion, was confident of being comfortably fastest, until he looked at the timesheets; Villeneuve was over 9.5 seconds quicker.

A horrific accident in qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix ultimately claimed Villeneuve's life. Speaking at his funeral Scheckter said: "I will miss Gilles for two reasons. First, he was the fastest driver in the history of motor racing. Second, he was the most genuine man I have ever known."

Gilles Villeneuve

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Should Gilles Villeneuve be higher or lower in F1's greatest drivers?

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STATISTICS

Born18 Jan 1950
Died8 May 1982
Active years1977 - 1982
Best2nd (1979)
Presences68
Starts67
Wins6
Podiums13
Poles2
Front row8
Fastest laps8
Races led18

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