Gilles First F1 Race

Minichamps 1/43 Mclaren M23 British Grand Prix 1977
Gilles Villeneuve

Minichamps released this a few years ago. The detail is good. It has removable parts to reveal the cockpit and the engine bay. Sad to say, no tobacco livery was placed on this model and I had to purchase them from an after market store and put the decals myself. Only three Gilles Villeneuve cars were released by Minichamps. I hope they do more Gilles Villeneuve cars in the future.



Villeneuve was a huge star in Formula Atlantic and was en route to his second championship when James Hunt and Alan Jones entered the race at Trois-Rivières as guest drivers. To their horror Hunt and Jones were soundly thrashed by the youngster. The following season, with Hunt now crowned as World Champion, Gilles' impressive drive hadn't been forgotten by the Englishman and eventually it led to McLaren giving the Canadian his F1 break. So it happened: McLaren entered a third car at Silverstone but to the ignorant onlooker Villeneuve's accomplishments mostly comprised of run-offs and spins all over the place. Still, without any previous experience of car and track he stuck the M23 9th on the grid, ahead of McLaren regular Mass. Taking more notice of Gilles' car-spinning capabilities, Teddy Mayer however declined to follow up on the opportunity.

So the Canuck was picked up by Enzo after Niki Lauda had announced his Brabham deal for 1978. Again, a third-car arrangement was set up for Villeneuve, this time at his home GP at Mosport, where he was entered with the peculiar No.21. Gilles finished last after a mid-race spin spoiled his chances.