Canadian race car driver Jacques Villeneuve has really fell in love with ice racing. So much that he decided to run the entire schedule of the Andros Trophy!
The 1995 Indy 500 winner and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion lies currently 12th in the standings Andros Trophy -- the top European ice racing series point standings – after two races with 237 points.
The series stages 13 rounds this winter, but each driver can only add his best 11 results in the finals standings, meaning that the worst two will automatically be discarded.
The organisers of the Andros Trophy confirmed on Monday morning that Villeneuve will contest the entire season. Originally, the deal was just for four races, but Villeneuve likes so much ice racing that he decided to change his plans.
“It’s a blast! It’s a lot of fun! I continue to learn from the format of the race meetings. The last race held in Andorra this past weekend was really competitive, hotly contested. We really fought hard,” Villeneuve told Auto123.com on Monday.
“However, I need to perform better during the timed sessions and the qualifying heats. I still have some difficulties at being super quick when I am alone on the circuit. The problem is that these heats provide 80% of the points of the meeting. I am a lot more competitive when I run in traffic. The other drivers seem to run a bit slower during the final races, so I can easily pass people and slice through the field. But I can assure you that most of these guys are not used at getting passed!” Villeneuve told us.
Villeneuve will contest the full season but will he compete in the Grand Finale held in Paris in March?
“Well, I don’t know. At that time of the year, the NASCAR season will be in full swing and I may not be available. I’ll check that out a little bit later,” Villeneuve concluded.
Schedule:
December 17-18: Alpe d’Huez
2011
January 7-8: Isola 2000
January 14-15: Saint Dié des Vosges
January 29: Final, Clermont Ferrand/Super Besse
March 5: Super Final (non-championship race), Stade de France, Paris
 |
| (Photo: Bernard Bakalian) |
The 1995 Indy 500 winner and 1997 Formula 1 World Champion lies currently 12th in the standings Andros Trophy -- the top European ice racing series point standings – after two races with 237 points.
The series stages 13 rounds this winter, but each driver can only add his best 11 results in the finals standings, meaning that the worst two will automatically be discarded.
 |
| Jacques Villeneuve (Photo: Bernard Bakalian) |
The organisers of the Andros Trophy confirmed on Monday morning that Villeneuve will contest the entire season. Originally, the deal was just for four races, but Villeneuve likes so much ice racing that he decided to change his plans.
“It’s a blast! It’s a lot of fun! I continue to learn from the format of the race meetings. The last race held in Andorra this past weekend was really competitive, hotly contested. We really fought hard,” Villeneuve told Auto123.com on Monday.
 |
| Olivier Panis, Jacques Villeneuve and Franck Lagorce of the works Skoda team. (Photo: WRI2) |
“However, I need to perform better during the timed sessions and the qualifying heats. I still have some difficulties at being super quick when I am alone on the circuit. The problem is that these heats provide 80% of the points of the meeting. I am a lot more competitive when I run in traffic. The other drivers seem to run a bit slower during the final races, so I can easily pass people and slice through the field. But I can assure you that most of these guys are not used at getting passed!” Villeneuve told us.
Villeneuve will contest the full season but will he compete in the Grand Finale held in Paris in March?
“Well, I don’t know. At that time of the year, the NASCAR season will be in full swing and I may not be available. I’ll check that out a little bit later,” Villeneuve concluded.
Schedule:
December 17-18: Alpe d’Huez
2011
January 7-8: Isola 2000
January 14-15: Saint Dié des Vosges
January 29: Final, Clermont Ferrand/Super Besse
March 5: Super Final (non-championship race), Stade de France, Paris