Formula 1: 5 times Gilles Villeneuve was the ideal entertainer of F1

Marking his appearance at Brands Hatch

It was July of 1978 at Brands Hatch. Free practice began and most cars made their way out of the pits in a tentative manner, as usual for a first run out. But one, a certain #12, white and red Ferrari, left the pits and started pushing through Paddock Hill Bend (turn one), down and up the hill, and approached Druids (turn two) at a higher speed than the cars around him.

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In typical Gilles Villeneuve manner, he locked up all four tires under braking, because it is him.

This sent him backwards into the catch fencing, producing his first car out of the session already.

But we all know Gilles Villeneuve by now. He wasted no time in getting back onto the track. But this time, he abandoned his car, instead opting for the running option. A quick sprint down and up the hill from which he had just arrived led him to his pit box, and back out he went. Would he take a different approach this time around?

Obviously not. This time around, he approached Druids bend at possibly an even greater speed, and once again locked up all four  of his tires, sending tire smoke into the air. But what he had learned during his spin about two minutes ago was how he could control his oversteer. This time, a magnificently held drift saw him able to get around turn two and be on his way, providing a great thrill for those watching up at that corner.