He may be targeting a return to Formula 1 next year, but in the meantime former World Champion and Indy car star Jacques Villeneuve is keeping his NASCAR hand in. The French-Canadian will team up with ex-Champ Car racer Andrew Ranger and Jonathan Bouvrette for Saturday night’s Tide 250, Round 4 of the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series at the Saint-Eustache Autodrome in his native Quebec. The trio will drive Ford Fusions in the 250-lap event on the 4/10th-mile paved oval.
For Villeneuve, it will be a new kind of racecar in an unknown series and on a very short track.
“When Alan Labrosse called to offer this ride, I actually did not know what to expect, but it was an experience I was willing to explore,” said Villeneuve. “I had no idea how the cars would handle, but I was pleasantly surprised when I did some private testing back in May. I was immediately enthused. I was surprised how well it handled, and on the power response of the engine. I was told that it is a very competitive series, that the drivers are quite experienced. I was also told that I should expect some hard knocks.”
Ranger said he will live a long-time dream of his by racing alongside Villeneuve.
“I will be racing with a hero of mine,” said Ranger, who sits in second place in the Canadian Tire Series standings. “Ever since I was a youth, I have been dreaming about this occasion. It thrills me to work with a driver that I admire. He will be driving a very competitive car, and even though he will be part of the team, he will also be another competitor to look out for.”