Austria's longest serving Grand Prix journalist remembers Gilles Villeneuve: Helmut Zwickl answered my questions.
As an Austrian journalist you had probably more information about Lauda’s departure from Ferrari in 1977 than many others. But what did you know about his successor the unknown Villeneuve?
I heard the following story from Walter Wolf. One night he had a call, it was Chris Amon. Wally, told him Amon, I have something for you. This Villeneuve guy was only after 20 laps in our Can-Am car full 2 seconds quicker than me. I regard him as the greatest talent since Jim Clark. I tell you put him in your car and not me. When Lauda said arridiverci Gilles already got the Ferrari seat in Maranello. I remember when he first drove for them in Mosport 1977 he made piruettes all the time but he was immediately blistering quick, too.
There is always comparisons because of their natural speed: Rindt, Peterson, Villeneuve. You were friend of Jochen Rindt – would you agree with this opinion?
Actually, yes. Villeneuve and Rindt were same type in big way: both cool, ready for every risk and absolutely talented by nature. Although, Ferrari always used to be an altar for pilotes with immensely risky driving style. Musso, von Trips, de Portago, Collins and also Villeneuve – their death made them hero forever and heros like them have built up the Ferrari mythos.
As Austrian did you have a good relation with him?
I had a fine relation with him thanks to Walter Wolf. We had many stories. Once as we flew from Nizza to Zeltweg by the helicopter of Wolf the petrol went out. Gilles landed on a cornfield and simply refuelled it from the reserve can. On the other occasion he had to make an emergency landing in Cannes. When they filled it again with kerosine it needed exactly the same amount of petrol as big the tank was. Which ment Gilles flew the whole thing totally empty again…
How was he with Niki?
For Lauda Gilles was a giant. But he also said once he wouldn’t have had him as team mate since that would have been a duel for life or death.
