Villeneuve Racing

2019/11/10

Back on the Jacques Villeneuve’s first season in NWES

By AURÉLIEN BAMBAGIONI WWW.VILLENEUVE.RACING

The first season in Jacques Villeneuve’s Nascar Whelen Euro Series was not as promising as his fans – and surely himself – were hoping for after his full-time commitment with Go Fas Racing. Already involved in NWES and X-Finity and in 2019 in NASCAR Monster Energy Cup Series in the United States, this structure is owned by Alain Lord Mounir, long-time supporter of the French-Canadian driver in motorsport.

Many changes between the year 2018 and 2019 made Villeneuve’s experience difficult, yet still comfortable at the wheel of Nascar-type cars. Firstly the number 32 was so far was a Ford Mustang and it was well expected that JV engages in Mustang. First surprise in Valencia in April 2019 during the first meeting of the season, to see him ride in Chevrolet Camaro. It will not be if it will have a real impact on the performance of the year. Then a tire manufacturer change from Michelin to General Tire. Who disappointed Jacques. It has been known to support Michelin since it was introduced to Sauber in F1 in 2005. Finally, a car with slanted settings, unique dampers and sealed engines will not have allowed the former Formula 1 world champion, who has knows very good director and able to make a car performing and to his hand, to express himself fully in his first full season behind a wheel for too many years.

However, many positive elements emerge from this year 2019 in Euro Nascar. In addition to a commitment to the GT championship in Italy with Giancarlo Fisichella and Stefano Gai where Villeneuve aboard an official Ferrari of the Baldini team demonstrated all his mastery to drive cars on circuit, the winning driver The 1995 Indianapolis 500 has shown a definite appetite for finally driving a NASCAR car. The European series is one of three Nascar World franchises, with Canada and Mexico. The European cars may not be as good as their cousins in the US but it is clear that they look more like real NASCAR cars. To have seen them evolve since their beginning where they looked more like the vehicles engaged in Nascar regional series, they are now comparable to the Canadian or even to the second North American division.

By finishing in 8th place overall out of 45 entries, with 7 Top 10, 4 Top 5 including two podiums, and 2 pole positions – on the only oval track and on the last race of the season at Zolder – Jacques Villeneuve showed himself combative and valiant driving throughout the season, playing doors and offering beautiful lifts and beautiful defenses position at each appointment. It must now confirm in 2020. First by a commitment in the series that his name will make known a little more in Europe and Quebec. Then capitalizing on his first year to go ahead and glean to a minimum, finally, his first career victory in NASCAR. Who has been refusing him for too long.

Euro Nascar 2019 general championship standings

Final round of the season at Zolder. Jacques is on pôle, and it’s shower time.

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2019/02/01

New Jacques Villeneuve website

By AURÉLIEN BAMBAGIONI WWW.VILLENEUVE.RACING

Here is a new Internet place around Jacques Villeneuve after the collapse of jv-world.com
Access to news, races results and the jv-lounge’s fan forum.

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2019/01/31

Ferrari-Villeneuve, the legend is back in the Italian GT Championship

By CIGRANTURISMO WWW.ACISPORT.IT

The one announced by Scuderia Baldini is not going to be the simple participation of a driver to the 17th Italian GT Championship. The presence of Jacques Villeneuve in the Italian Endurance series has been made official by the Italian team and generates unforgettable memories in the minds of Ferrari fans. The times of the deeds of the legendary Gilles are quite far, but the memory is still alive and it will be even more so thanks to the participation of his son Jacques to the Italian GT Championship. The former F1 97 World Champion will be behind the wheel of a Ferrari, the 488 run by Scuderia Baldini, carrying the unforgettable number 27. He will most probably share driving duties with Giancarlo Fisichella and another driver still to be decided. The new format of the Endurance series requires lineups made of three drivers that will exchange at the wheel in the four 3-hours-long races scheduled in Monza (April 7th), Misano (May 19th), Vallelunga (September 15th) and Mugello (October 6th).

This is going to be a happy comeback for Jacques on the Italian racetracks, where he moved his first steps in motorsport with Prema Racing in the Italian Formula 3 Championship in 1989 following some appearance in the Italian Touring Championship on the Alfa 33. The debut in the Italian Championship was followed by the Formula Nippon and the move to the USA where the young Canadian competed in the Atlantic and Cart Formulas. He won Cart in 1995, the same year in which he also won the prestigious Indy 500. This successful season saw Jacques always competing with the number 27 on his car, the same number that will be used this year.

The following year Frank Williams signed the 25 years old Jacques for the Formula 1 season, championship that he won in 1997 thanks to 7 wins, 10 pole positions and a total of 81 points. The unlucky experience with Bar followed until 2003. Renault, Sauber and BMW Sauber were his Formula 1 teams until 2006, when he decided to leave F1. In 2007 Villeneuve contested his first 24 Hours of Le Mans, race in which he came second absolute the following year, in the same season that saw him winning the 1000 km of Spa. Jacques competed in Nascar from 2010 to 2013, before moving to the Rally Cross World Championship and to the Indianapolis 500. He also contested three races in Formula E. Jacques has been a Sky Sport commentator for Formula 1 races since 2013.

We cannot wait to welcome him on track. The appointment for all the fans is at the Monza Eni Circuit on April 5th,6th and 7th for the season opener.

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2018/12/16

Motorsports icon Jacques Villeneuve to compete full-time in NASCAR Whelen Euro Series

By GIAN LUCA GUIGLIA WWW.EURONASCAR.COM

One of the biggest stars in motorsports choose the official NASCAR European Championship for his return to competition. Formula One World Champion, Indy 500 winner and CART Champion Jacques Villeneuve will compete full time in Euro NASCAR with Go Fas Racing in a 2019 season that is already shaping up as the most anticipated in the European NASCAR series’ history.

Villeneuve participated in 2 days of testing on December 13-14 at the Autodromo di Franciacorta in Italy to discover the Euro NASCAR car and gain some valuable experience on the track that will host the second round of the 2019 season.

“I had a lot of fun discovering the car because it is really similar to what I was used to in NASCAR in the US. You can really drive it hard and you can work a lot on the car and that is also very nice. I also like the track, it’s interesting and there’s a lot to do for the driver,” said the Canadian. “Returning full-time is what matters the most to me, because I want to be part of a complete project and have a goal for the entire season. I’m really looking forward to the first race of 2019!”

A true icon of motorsports and one of the most eclectic drivers of the modern era, Jacques Villeneuve won the 1997 Formula 1 World Championship, the 1995 Indianapolis 500, the 1995 Indy Car World Series and finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He also competed in all three NASCAR’s major National Series and in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series in Canada.

Villeneuve will become the first Formula 1 World Champion to compete full-time in Euro NASCAR, further cementing the championship’s status as one of the best touring car series in Europe.

“Having Jacques aboard is a huge piece of news for everybody involved in Euro NASCAR : our fans, partners, teams and drivers!!” said NASCAR Whelen Euro Series President-CEO Jerome Galpin. “The series continue to grow and to gather everybody having passion for Pure Racing, whether they are World Champions drivers or fans attending our events! The 2019 NWES season promises to be one of the most exciting of any European series!”

Villeneuve will be an immensely valuable addition to the Go Fas Racing NWES lineup. The team made its European debut in 2018, winning its first NWES race at Brands Hatch in the ELITE 2 Division and bringing home the Rookie Cup final classification.

“We are really excited that a former Indy 500 and Formula 1 Champion will join Go Fas Racing and we really feel that with Jacques’ talent and the team we put together, we have a shot at the NWES championship this season,” said Go Fas Racing owner Alain Lord Mounir.

The first race of the 2019 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series will take place at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain on April 13-14. The European NASCAR Series will visit 7 countries and featured 26 exciting NASCAR races headlining unique American-themed events.

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