Villeneuve takes the win …

The 1981 Grand Prix de Monaco wasn’t supposed to be Gilles Villeneuve’s race.

Nelson Piquet in his Brabham BT49C easily overwhelmed the field, closely followed by Alan Jones in the Williams FW07C.

Unfortunately, Piquet was held up by a back-marker and crashed into the Armco. Jones’ car started suffering from fuel-feed problems and was falling back.

Latex paint on oak plywood 15.5"x 17.5" (39.3cm x 44.5cm) © Paul Chenard 2010

Original available for sale - Limited editions also available

Villeneuve, pushing his Ferrari 126CK and driving a clean race, passed Jones on lap 73 and took the race with a 40 second lead.

He followed up with a win in the next race, the Spanish Grand Prix. Sadly, this would be the last win of his all-too-short Formula 1 career.

Dijon 1979 - A race not easily forgotten ...

The Renault Team was favored to make a clean sweep of the 1979 French Grand Prix. A French car on French soil driven by a Frenchman and fueled by French "carburant" had the making of P.R. gold.

But they didn't count on the tenacity of the Canadian driving for Ferrari ...
Pen & ink and Prismacolor pencils on gray archival stock
© Paul Chenard 2008
Original art available, as are limited editions.

Photographer, author, keynote speaker Allan De La Plante had the chance to witness that famous race; in his words:

Hi Paul,
I was there In Dijon that crazy day and it was something else. When I returned to the pits Gilles' T4 was sitting there all alone with the front tires completely spent, but the thing that got to me was the car was growning and creaking as it cooled down. It almost seemed to talk! I am sure the car was as satisfied as everyone, well almost everyone, that saw that almighty duel.
Nice work!

You can see Allan's fabulous photography at http://www.allandelaplante.webs.com/

Gilles Villeneuve — Jan. 18, 1950-May 8, 1982

Sadly, it was 27 years ago today that we lost Gilles Villeneuve.

He still very much in our hearts ...

Gilles Villeneuve racing a Ferrari T4 in the rain

Pencil on paper, working drawing © Paul Chenard 2007

Canada's most celebrated F1 driver, fearless and focused. He left us too early ... January 18, 1950 - May 8, 1982.