Being
Your Own Person: Stepping
Out Of Someone's Shadow
Big
Daddy's Shoes
Jacques
Villeneuve's father, Gilles was the lead
driver for Ferrari. Racing in a Formula
1 car is tough, but the stakes are much
higher when you have the keys to a Scuderia.
Gilles had so impressed Enzo Ferrari that
his signing led to the departure of Niki
Lauda from the team. Gilles first raced
for the team in 1977 at the Grand Prix of
Great Britain. His first victory came in
1978, in Montreal, Canada. Fitting since
Villeneuve was Canadian. In 1982, at the
Grand Prix of Belgium, Gilles died during
the try-outs.
About
15 years later, a young wunderkind by the
name of Jacques Villeneuve was winning over
fans by the truckloads. Young Jacques had
just won the Indy 500 in the Cart Series
and had sealed the year with the Championship.
His sights were now set on Formula 1 racing.
Jacques made the move to the Williams Renault
team, arguably the top team in the circuit.
With everyone watching, and most asking
about his father, Jacques remained respectful
of his legacy and did what he did best.
He finished second to Damon Hill in his
rookie season, but capped off his second
year with the title, surpassing the legendary
Michael Schumacher. The younger Villeneuve
could have signed with many teams, but he
strayed away from Ferrari and focused on
building his own reputation.
Learn
more about stepping out of your brother's
shadow.
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