Long before his name became synonymous with one of the world’s most famous Formula One circuits, Gilles Villeneuve was carving through snow on a snowmobile, chasing speed in rural Quebec.
A new exhibition opening at Parc Jean-Drapeau invites visitors to follow that journey — from his earliest days in motorsport to international racing fame — while exploring the legacy that led Montreal’s Formula One track to bear his name.
“Salut Gilles, a Story of Speed in Montreal” opens to the public Thursday. It features archival material, photographs, videos, personal testimonies and artifacts connected to “Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend,” an upcoming film about the late driver.
The exhibition was created by the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau in partnership with the Fondation Gilles Villeneuve, GV27, Christal Films and Entract Films.
Telling the story behind the circuit’s name
For organizers, the exhibition is about more than celebrating one of Canada’s greatest racing drivers. It is also intended to explain why Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve has carried his name since 1982.
“We wanted to have that story told to the public to understand why we have Gilles Villeneuve named on our circuit,” said Véronique Doucet, executive director of the Société du parc Jean-Drapeau.
Doucet said visitors follow Villeneuve’s career from snowmobile racing through Atlantic racing and eventually Formula One.
“We know Formula 1 today. But it’s the whole story to get in there that we’re telling.”
A unique partnership with the Villeneuve family
While other exhibitions have celebrated Villeneuve’s life, Doucet said this one stands apart because of its location and the collaboration behind it.
“The one here is located on the site of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. So for us, it’s very important,” she said.
“The other thing is also that we helped finish the film. The film was (shot) here on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve last year. So you have some pieces of that movie that was done. So we’re showing that. That’s different than what you can find somewhere else.”
The exhibition includes reproductions of Villeneuve’s racing suits and helmets created for the film rather than original items.
“They have been the reproduction that has been done for the movie. But they’re really, really close to the original,” Doucet said, adding that more pieces are expected to be added to the exhibition in the coming months, including personal items that belonged to Villeneuve.
A story of perseverance
For Mélanie Villeneuve, Gilles Villeneuve’s daughter and president of the Fondation Gilles Villeneuve, the exhibition represents years of collaboration and a chance to tell a lesser-known part of her father’s story.
“It represents actually a lot of work from the Parc Jean-Drapeau, an unbelievable collaboration from them, a great partnership that is coming to life between the owner of the track here and the family,” she said.
Villeneuve said the exhibition highlights her father’s early years in snowmobile racing and the determination that eventually carried him to Formula One.
“It talks about his early life and how he came to become a champion and how he developed through his snowmobile career, early life in the snow and it’s a different sport, but how it really shaped who he became as a driver.”
She said visitors will also see the obstacles he overcame.
“And all of the ups and downs and the challenges, the myriad of challenges that he had to deal with and he had to conquer for him to be able to go forward.”
More than a racing exhibit
Villeneuve hopes the exhibit will resonate even with people who know little about motorsport.
“That’s a story that’s super inspiring for me and I wanted to be able to share it,” she said.
“The film’s coming out, all the items from the film, the cars, the suits, all the paraphernalia were there to be dealt with. And so the Parc Jean-Drapeau became a super partner and said let’s do this exposition together. And so I think it’s a super success.”
Doucet said organizers also wanted to make the exhibition affordable and accessible.
“It’s accessible. Everybody can come here. It lasts about 30 minutes. It’s not expensive. So we’re talking about $8 for an adult, $4 for kids. And you have also $20 for the whole family.”
She said the exhibition offers visitors a deeper understanding of both Villeneuve and the circuit that bears his name.
“I think you can really learn about the story of Gilles Villeneuve. You can learn of the story, but also the story of the circuit. And it makes it more personal. Afterwards, when you come at the park, you understand why the circuit is named under his name.”
The limited-time exhibition is presented at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal.
Add CityNews Montreal as a trusted source on Google to see more local stories from us.
