End of the Road for JV?

(NIGE) So it seems the decade long formula one career of Jacques Villeneuve has finally come to end with the mutual severing of a contract.

It’s a sad end to the career of any driver, let alone the man who came out of that 1997 clash with Michael Schumacher as the moral victor, and a popular World Champion.

Villeneuve had made an explosive debut to the Grand Prix scene a year earlier. Who can forget how close he came to winning that maiden Australian GP, until mechanical problems meant he had to yeald to the by now oil soaked Damon Hill.

At Estoril that year he proved beyond doubt that he was something special. As “Bernie TV’s” onboard cameras rode with Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari, a glimpse of Williams Blue could be seen. JV was passing the World Champion around the outside of Turn 8. As more of the Williams came into view it became clear that on the exit of turn 8 was a slow moving Minardi – there just wasn’t going to be room for two more cars! Somehow Villeneuve kept his foot in made the move stick. As a sixteen year old fan, that was one of the greatest moves I had ever seen!

Of course 1996 was to be our Damon’s year, but Villeneuve would make him work for it until the end. His charge was finally over as he watched his rear wheel over-take him and bounce over the Suzuka catch fencing.

For 1997 Villeneuve started the year as title favourite. Hill had been replaced by Frenzen at Williams, and save that fantastic drive at the Hungaroring, he would never look like winning all year. 1997 was to be the first year of what we have come to accept as “Modern Ferrari”, and it was to be Michael who would ultimately be JV’s title rival, but 1997 was also the revival year for McLaren.

Everybody knows what happened next!

There has been enough written about Jerez 1997 without me adding my two-pence, but in hindsight that race in Spain marked a sizeable shift in the balance of power. With Schumacher in the kitty-litter and Jacques nursing his championship hopes home, the McLarens loomed on the Horizon.

After a few laps of Coulthard leading Hakkinen behind Villeneuve, the McLarens switched places and Hakkinen found a way by. Hakkinen would go on to take his long-awaited Maiden win. The next two World Championships would follow.

Renaults decision to leave Grand Prix racing at the end of the 1997 was to hit Williams hard, and leave them with a supply of customer engines until BMW’s arrival in 2000.

For Jacques 1998 was a year to forget, and as the year old on speculation began to mount about his manager Craig Pollock buying the Tyrell team and forming a Team Villeneuve.

The British American Racing project when it finally came seemed just as irresistible as it’s twin liveried cars were garish. With a huge cashpile from British American Tobacco, a technical partnership with constructor Reynard, and Honda power on the way for 2000.

Villeneuve was lured with a very big cheque and teamed with the highly rated Ricardo Zonta.

However the BAR project was never to bring Villeneuve the promised success. Over the next few years his only real moments or not were his seemingly ever large qualifying accidents at Spa’s Eau Rouge corner.

It is sad in hindsight that he continued to accept those huge BAT cheques, rather than take a pay-cut and seek a drive elsewhere. However all the ingredients for success were there, and at the time it must have looked as if that final leap was only just around the corner. Ultimately the success would come, but it was to be without Pollock and Villeneuve.

Sacked by new boss Dave Richards it looked like the end of the JV GP story, but a chance opportunity at Renault brought him back from the wilderness. A Sauber deal for 2005 was to follow.

It was to prove another tough year for JV, and when BMW announced they would acquire the team for 2006, it again seemed to be over.

BMW though would honour his contract. Jacques was soon driving like the man of old, seeming happy in his new team. This is why I was so shocked to read the news today that it is all over.

I would like to wish Jacques all the luck in the world with whatever project he turns his hand to next. Obviously I hope that that it is working the wheel of a racing car but it seems he also now has a promising second career looming in music. For anybody interested his MySpace site has details of his new album and can be visited by clicking this link

It’s not goodbye, just au revior… and thanks for the memories!