Walking Around One Of My Favourite F1 Tracks Was A Very Special Experience
Whenever I’m on a Formula 1 racing game, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is always my track of choice. And it always produces great real-life F1 action too. It’s been the scene of some brilliantly iconic and memorable moments from the series, so you can imagine visiting it was number one on my list of ‘things to do’ while recently visiting Montreal.
One of the best things about the track is the fact you can go and walk around it when F1 isn’t visiting. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is located on Notre Dame Island in the St. Lawrence River. Alongside Saint Helen’s Island, the two make up Parc Jean-Drapeau, and the circuit is open for the public to explore.
It’s actually very easy to get to as well, which made things a lot easier. The neighbouring Saint Helen’s Island is a stop on Montreal’s Metro system and a short walk across a bridge leads you right onto the track, just prior to the sector three hairpin. With F1 not in town until June, the circuit looked a little scruffy, but it obviously gets spruced up before the race weekend.
It was very quiet when I visited the circuit with my father on a cloudy Friday afternoon. The track is divided into two: one side is for cyclists and walkers, the other for cars. We saw very few of the latter, although it was certainly a popular spot for cyclists. And if there’s an open race track close by, why wouldn’t you make the most of it?
My perspective of the race track changed drastically just by spending an hour or two walking around it. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve looks wider, smoother and less undulating on TV. But, in fact, it’s a narrow beast, with plenty of mild undulations and one lined with barriers. It has the feel of a street venue, despite being lined with trees and parkland.
The back straight alongside the Olympic rowing basin feels like it goes on forever and the kerbs are extremely high. Tyre marks from where drivers got a bit too close still remain, which provoked many debates as to who could have created them. And there was of course plenty of reminiscing about classic Montreal F1 moments.
From Nigel Mansell’s last lap retirement in 1991, to Lewis Hamilton crashing into Kimi Raikkonen at the pit exit in 2008 and Jenson Button snatching the win from Sebastian Vettel in 2011’s record-breaking race, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve has produced some stunning racing and brilliant moments. It was great to think back to them and stand on the exact spots where they took place. It was a bit surreal, if anything.
The same can also be said for standing on the start line and looking back down the grid, thinking about all of the cars that have parked in those positions and headed down to Turn 1, passing over the ‘Salut Gilles’ message to the Canadian racing maestro the track was renamed after following his death in 1982.
Deviating off the F1 path also leads to some stunning views of the Montreal skyline. It’s a beautiful location for a race track and walking around it was naturally a brilliant experience, one I’d recommend to anyone interested in motorsport. It may have been cold, the track may have looked a bit rough around the edges, but it was very special all the same.
Comments
Although not nearly as good as as canada i have been to Singapore street circuit
An equally interesting circuit!
I remember this track from an AR12 vlog
I do longboard around this track every week. Its awesome as a F1 fan to do so. I visualise every time how it must feel in a F1 car ! Daydreaming at is best :)
Haha that is so awesome!
Took to bus on it once to go to the Parc Jean Drapeau and I ran on it once. Planning to do a bit of bicycle on it this summer.
I’m cycling a lot on the track ! This is the best asphalt around Montreal !
There were loads of cyclists there when I was walking around, maybe you were one of them!
My dad and I went to the 2012 and 13 Grand Prix there. Biblical! Walked the track after the race. Tons of marbles everywhere and the inside slug curbs on the last chicane are really high. I remember.
Nice, I would love to just walk around a F1 track. The way they’ve divided is awesome, too bad Canada is like a billion miles away XD.
Even more awesome is that, correct me if I’m wrong, you can also go around the track with your personal car. Rather slowly of course, but it would be great to drive through it.
Question: Don’t they also use the track for other events throughout the year, like track days or driving experiences like they do at Silverstone, and if not, why not?
Yeah you can take your car around. And it doesn’t get any use other than F1, is my understanding
They have the authority to hold a maximum of two races per year on the track since it is a public road the rest of the year. In fact, closing the road for the Grand Prix is viewed as a hassle for a lot of cyclists coming from the south side of the river into the city because it cuts off access through the island.
Always wanted to go to the Canadian Grand Prix. How expensive is Montreal during GP weekends?
Depends where but general admission 55$ normal seats 250 good seats 450$
It depends on where you stay. If you are staying in a chain hotel downtown, expect to pay about 3 times the normal rate. If you stay out at the airport or on the South Shore, the mark up is much smaller, but there is a drive every day. Small little hotels might have hardly any increase in price at all. One thing that will be expensive is if you plan on going out to a club during the GP weekend, but there are so many free events including at least four separate street festivals. The one in Little Italy is great if you are looking for a car show and trying to get away from the big crowds while Crescent Street and Peel St are the really big parties.
Who else is from Montréal?
Mtl represent! Hahaha
Yes.
Yep
Yep!
Go Canada!!!🍁
Wait so can you drive around it aswell?
Yeah but at a restricted speed