Jacques was born 9th April 1971 in St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu,Quebec, Canada. Jacques begun his racing career with a test in a Formula Ford at the age of 15 at the Jim Russell School of Racing in 1986. In 1987 JV registered with the Richard Spenard Formula 2000 racing school and competed in his first races in the school championship. 1988 saw JV compete in three rounds of the Alfa Italain Touring Car Championship. From 1989-1991 JV competed in the Formula Three Championship of Italy but only made the podium 4 times with two second's and two thrid place finishes. 1992 saw JV take on the Japanese Formula 3 and he finished Second in the Championship earning 3 Wins.
1992 also saw for the first time JV racing against his Uncle Jacques for the first time in a Formula Atlantic Race in Trois-Riviere, while Uncle led early on mechanical failure saw him retire and JV continued to a Thrid place result. This was the start of the relationship with his manager Craig Pollock and the Players Sponsorship. In 1993 JV competed for Team Green in the Formula Atlantic Championship and earned Rookie of the Year with 5 Victories including a win at the circuit named after his father in Montreal "Le Circuit Gilles Villeneuve".
1994 and 1995 saw JV take on the Americans in the PPG IndyCar Series with Team Green and the Players Sponsorship the first few races in 1994 resulted in JV crashing but at the 1994 Indy 500 JV qualified Fourth and Finished an outstanding Second to Al Unser Jr by only a few feet. JV followed this good result with his first win in only 14 starts by Winning the Road America Race at Elkart Lake repeating the feat of his Uncle Jacques 9 years earlier, JV went on to take Rookie of the Year Honors for 1994.
1995 started with a win first up at Miami and was followed shortly afterwards with a come from Two Laps Down Victory at the Indy 500, JV became at 24 the Youngest ever Winner of the Brickyard race. JV followed with two more Wins for the year to be Crowned 1995 PPG IndyCar Champion.
1996 saw JV start in F1 for the Williams Team and Four Victories were scored that year to allow JV to finish Second in the Championship behind Teammate Damon Hill, and if they had a Rookie of the Year Title in F1 then JV was surely the Winner.
1997 and only his Second Year in F1 sees Jacques Villeneuve becoming World Champion with 7 Wins for the Year and despite the "Vile" attempt by Michael Schumacher to take JV out of the points race Young Jacques conquered all.
1998 was a lean year for the Williams/Renault with no wins and only two Thrid place finishes to show for the year JV finished 5th in the Championship. It was during 1998 that Craig Pollack started to form his own Team by buying out Tyrell and bringing in Reynard Racing and American Tobacco Sponsorship from the Brandnames Lucky Strike and 555. It was only natural that JV would sign to drive for Team BAR in the 1999 season. So far Team BAR have proven dissapointing in there first year with no points to show and poor reliability.
2000 will see Jacques have the use of works Honda Engines in the all new Reynard designed Team BAR Cars and I am looking forward to a successful year once more for Jacques.
2000 Australian Grand Prix warm up lap start
2000 Australian Grand Prix Start Lights just went green and Jacques finished in 4th place.(Eddie Irvine in foreground in Jaguar)
