Gilles Villeneuve entered Formula 1 with a McLaren-Ford in the 1977 British Grand Prix. Although the British team had an option on his further services, the Canadian became a hero with Ferrari where he died in 1982. Former team manager, Alastair Caldwell told me about all these in this interview.
- When James Hunt reported about Gilles in 1976 why did McLaren decide to try him and why not before Silverstone?
- We called Gilles and talked to him about giving him a test and possibly running him at Canada and the States at the end of the year as was our normall practice in those days as there was less pressure at the end of the season. He immediately came to the Mclaren factory in Colnbrook without us asking him. This was a very good move on his part, we showed him everything and immediately knew he was our kind of driver. He was smart, direct, loved cars and driving and had already shown initiative by turning up.
- How was that weekend in 1977 with the British GP having 3 drivers? The World Champion who was going to win the race, his team mate Jochen Mass and the rooky Canadian?
- Well, we decided to run him much earlier at Silverstone since he had shown so much interest and this was our home race so the logistics of running three cars there was so much easier. He did very well as you know, drove well, did not crash the car! Though he spun on every corner of the track except Abbey. Told me that was how he knew how quick to go and his car control was so good we did not know untill journalists came and told us. The weekend went very well. Sadly the water temp gauge failed and as he had been told he came in to report the problem and was sent back out otherwise he would have finished in the points in his first F1 race.
- Why did McLaren, Teddy Meyer (or you?) opt not to run Gilles any more?
- I personally and most of the team were certain that he should stay with us but sadly Marlboro were not so keen as his French was not so good and they wanted a European driver to help sell their products. Still we were sure that he was for us and offered him a testing contract.
MORE IN THE BOOK GILLES VILLENEUVE REMEMBERED - SOON IN 2014
