Circuit Gilles Villeneuve facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Grand Prix Circuit (2002–present)
Location	Parc Jean-Drapeau, Montreal, Quebec
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (UTC−04:00 DST)
Coordinates	45°30′02″N 73°31′21″W / 45.50056°N 73.52250°W / 45.50056; -73.52250
Capacity	100,000
FIA Grade	1
Owner	City of Montreal
Broke ground	1978
Opened	6 October 1978; 46 years ago (1978-10-06)
Architect	Roger Peart
Former names	Île Notre-Dame Circuit (1978–1982)
Major events	Current: Formula One Canadian Grand Prix (1978–1986, 1988–2008, 2010–2019, 2022–present) Former: Champ Car World Series Grand Prix of Montreal (2002–2006) NASCAR Nationwide Series NAPA Auto Parts 200 (2007–2012) World Sportscar Championship (1990)
Grand Prix Circuit (2002–present)
Length	4.361 km (2.710 mi)
Turns	14
Race lap record	1:13.078 ( Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes W10, 2019)
Grand Prix Circuit (1996–2001)
Length	4.421 km (2.747 mi)
Turns	13
Race lap record	1:17.205 ( Ralf Schumacher, Williams FW23, 2001)
Grand Prix Circuit (1994–1995)
Length	4.450 km (2.781 mi)
Turns	20
Race lap record	1:28.927 ( Michael Schumacher, Benetton B194, 1994)
Grand Prix Circuit (1988–1993)
Length	4.430 km (2.753 mi)
Turns	17
Race lap record	1:21.500 ( Michael Schumacher, Benetton B193, 1993)
Grand Prix Circuit (1978–1986)
Length	4.410 km (2.740 mi)
Turns	19
Race lap record	1:25.443 ( Nelson Piquet, Williams FW11, 1986)

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a famous race track in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is about 4.361 kilometers (2.710 miles) long. This track is on Notre Dame Island and is best known for hosting the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix. Many other exciting races have also taken place here over the years. These include the Champ Car World Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Formula One Racing in Montreal

The start-finish line at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve

The first Canadian Grand Prix at this circuit was in 1978. A Canadian driver named Gilles Villeneuve won that race for Scuderia Ferrari. He was a local hero! The Grand Prix quickly became a regular event on the Formula One calendar. It was held in Montreal for the next thirty years.

The race used to be in late September. In 1982, it moved to mid-June for warmer weather. Many amazing races have happened here, making the track known for its exciting and sometimes surprising outcomes. The race was not held in 2009 but returned in 2010.

The 2011 race was the longest World Championship Grand Prix ever. It lasted over four hours because of a long rain delay.

History of the Circuit

The Île Notre-Dame Circuit in the middle of the St. Lawrence river (1978)

The circuit was built in 1978 and was first called the Île Notre-Dame Circuit. Before this, the Canadian Grand Prix was held at other tracks. Safety concerns at the previous track led to the move to Montreal. In 1982, the circuit was renamed to honor Gilles Villeneuve. This happened after he sadly passed away earlier that year.

The track is in Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal. This park is named after a former mayor who helped organize Expo 67. The race circuit is on Notre Dame Island. This island is man-made and was mostly built for Expo 67. The nearby Saint Helen's Island was also made bigger for the fair.

Almost half of the track runs next to the Olympic Basin. This large basin was built for rowing and canoeing events during the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. In 2018-2019, the pit area, called the paddock, was rebuilt to be more modern.

Circuit Layout and Famous Sections

A satellite view of the circuit, taken in May 2018

The track has barriers very close to the edge. Even experienced drivers can make mistakes and hit them. One very famous part of the circuit is a wall at the end of the final chicane. This is just before the start/finish line.

In 1999, three former Formula One World Champions crashed into this wall. They were Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Jacques Villeneuve. Because of this, the wall earned the nickname "The Wall of Champions". It has a sign that says Bienvenue au Québec ("Welcome to Quebec"). Other champions like Jenson Button and Sebastian Vettel have also hit this wall.

Over the years, the circuit has changed. It used to have many medium-speed turns. Now, it's known as a "power track" where high straight-line speed is very important. Changes were made in 1994 to slow cars down after some serious accidents at another track. In 2002, the exit from the pit lane was changed to make it safer for drivers. This also made the track a little shorter.

In 2005, the curbs on the final chicane were made higher. This made the corner even harder for drivers. In 2007, NASCAR races started to be held here. This led to the pit lane being made longer to fit more cars. In 2017, new safety barriers were added to make the track safer for faster Formula One cars. The angle of the "Wall of Champions" exit was also changed for safety.

Senna 'S' Turns

The exit of Turn 2, part of the Senna 'S' during an F1 event

The first two turns of the circuit are known as the Senna 'S'. If you look at them from above, they form an 'S' shape. These turns are a challenging part of the track for drivers.

Pont de la Concorde Corner

The Pont de la Concorde corner is a very fast bend (Turn 8). It comes after a bridge underpass. This "quick kink" leads into Turn 9 and then a long straight section.

The Hairpin Curve

The Hairpin (L'Epingle) on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

Turn 10 is a 180-degree hairpin turn. Drivers have to turn their steering wheels completely here. This corner is a great spot for overtaking other cars. If a driver brakes too late, they might go off the track. Many exciting passes happen here because of different engine power and driver skills.

Other Activities at the Circuit

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is part of Parc Jean-Drapeau. When there are no races, it's open for everyone to enjoy. People can walk, run, bike, or rollerblade on the track. During the Grand Prix, Notre Dame Island is very noisy. But at other times, it's a quiet place with lots of greenery and animals.

For a short time, competitive cyclists were not allowed on the circuit due to safety concerns. However, this ban was later lifted after many protests.

Track Layout Changes Over Time

Major Events Held at the Circuit

The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve hosts many exciting races.

Current Events

• June: Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, Porsche Carrera Cup North America, F1 Academy

Former Events

• Champ Car World Series (2002–2006)
• NASCAR Nationwide Series (2007–2012)
• World Sportscar Championship (1990)
• Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series (2007–2012)
• Ferrari Challenge North America (many years)

Fastest Lap Records

Different types of race cars compete at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. This means we can compare their lap times. For example, in 2006, Formula One cars were 5 to 7 seconds faster than Champ Car vehicles.

The fastest official race lap record for Formula One is 1:13.078. This was set by Valtteri Bottas in a Mercedes W10 car during the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix.

The fastest lap ever recorded at the circuit was 1:10.240. Sebastian Vettel set this time during qualifying for the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix. Qualifying laps are not counted as official race records.

As of August 2025, here are some of the fastest official race lap records:

Images for kids

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  Bienvenue au Québec slogan on the Wall of Champions

See also

In Spanish: Circuito Gilles Villeneuve para niños

• List of auto racing tracks in Canada
• Other Montreal area race tracks
  • Circuit ICAR
  • Circuit Mont-Tremblant
  • Sanair Super Speedway