THE CANADIAN GP
In 1978 Quebec replaced Ontario as the Canadian GP swapped the swooping topography of Mosport for the built environment of Montréal. The new venue was originally called the Circuit Ile Notre-dame before it was renamed in 1982 after the tragic death of local hero Gilles Villeneuve.
In effect a street circuit without the buildings, the track has been through only the mildest of changes over its F1 history. The long straights and tight chicanes provide drivers with plenty of overtaking opportunities
The track is also famous for its final corner, bordered by the ‘Wall of Champions’, where drivers of the calibre of Michael Schumacher, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve have all shunted ignominiously in previous years.
This is a forward-thinking event in many ways: fans arrive exclusively by public transport, and despite the circuit’s proximity to the city centre it causes no disruption to business – even though more than 100,000 people make their way to the island over the course of the weekend.
CLASSIC RACE: 2008
An emergent BMW Sauber team got their first-ever victory – and one-two finish – courtesy of Robert Kubica, the first Polish driver to win in Formula 1.
A year after a terrifying shunt at this very circuit, Kubica seized his chance after Lewis Hamilton drove into the back of Kimi Räikkönen at the pit exit. Hamilton had been leading from Räikkönen as the two pitted, but the Ferrari crew got their man out first. Then Lewis added his own error to the mix, failing to see the red light as Kimi slowed for it.
Kubica lost out to team-mate Nick Heidfeld in the pits but then swept by at Turn 1 and left Heidfeld in his wake and pushed on to win.