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Quick Canucks: The memorable exploits of Canada's lesser-known F1 drivers

FEATURE BY GUEST AUTHORS
04/11/2016

The morning commute on a typical Canadian highway is a stressful experience. Motorists have to dodge an array of pot holes, construction cones, raccoon cadavers and snowploughs, just to make it to work in one piece. With amateur training like that, it's hard to believe Lance Stroll is Canada's first Formula One driver in 10 years.

Per capita, Canada has produced an impressive number of quality drivers. In the 1990s, with the Player's Driver Development Program in full force, racers surpassed lumber and maple syrup as the country's most notable exports. Still, home-grown talents like Greg Moore, David Empringham, Patrick Carpentier and Alex Tagliani never ascended to racing's premier series. Even prominent actor-turned-racer Jason Priestley, on a quest to prove that good looks make you a good driver, didn't attract the attention of the celebrity-loving F1 paddock.

This wasn't always the case. While the Great White North was never the most fertile breeding ground for Grand Prix aces, it may surprise you to learn that more than a dozen Canadians have traded their toques for F1 crash helmets over the years.

You're forgiven for thinking, I didn't know there were that many Villeneuves. After all, every time the Maple Leaf flag has flown above an F1 podium, the man standing underneath was of the Newtown moniker. Yet, a handful of their compatriots made initial forays into Grand Prix racing. Despite a lack of points and podiums, many left their own unique mark on the sport, in one way or another.

Here's a look at some of Canada's most noteworthy F1 attempts.

Peter Ryan - At just 21 years old, the Mont Tremblant resident turned heads when he triumphed over Stirling Moss in a sports car event at Mosport. One of those heads belonged to Colin Chapman. Ryan soon found himself at the wheel of a Lotus for the 1961 U.S. Grand Prix, where he climbed from 16th on the grid to ninth at the finish. Chapman was intrigued by Ryan's potential and brought him to Formula Junior to train for a future F1 role. Sadly, he didn't experience the F1 glory he seemed destined for. Less than a year after his memorable debut, Ryan was killed in a crash at the Reims circuit in France.

Al Pease - For almost 30 years, Pease dominated domestic motorsport in Canada. It's unfair, then, that his international reputation is entirely centred on one unfortunate fact: he's the only driver to be disqualified from an F1 race for being too slow. At the 1969 Canadian Grand Prix, Pease found himself multiple laps down in a flailing Eagle-Climax. He was shown the black flag for disrupting race leaders one too many times.

George Eaton - An aristocrat whose family owned Canada's most successful chain of retail stores, Eaton became Canada's first full-time F1 driver in 1970. His best result was tenth at his home Grand Prix, but he is rarely remembered for his racing efforts. Instead, Eaton achieved national notoriety for tanking as President of his family's merchant empire. After just 10 years with George at the helm, the once proud organization, founded by his great grandfather in 1869, filed for bankruptcy.

Uncle Jacques - You're aware of Gilles and his World Champion offspring, but did you know a third relative took a shot at racing's big league? Gilles brother, Jacques - often referred to as L'oncle Jacques, Jacques Senior or The Other Jacques - entered three F1 events in the early 80s. He didn't qualify in any of his attempts. Afterwards, he raced in the CART series and became a three-time World Snowmobile Champion, known for his wild driving style and mega shunts - a family tradition, it seems. Despite some horrific injuries, Uncle Jacques always came back for more and continued racing into his 60s.

Allen Berg - Classically Canadian, it was two bickering brewers who ended Berg's short F1 career. In 1986, Labatt Brewery helped the F3 driver land a mid-season F1 seat with the underfunded Osella team. The next year, things were looking good for Berg when Labatt struck a deal with CASC, Canada's governing body for motorsport, to sponsor the Canadian Grand Prix. The problem was, rival brewer Molson had a similar agreement with Bernie Ecclestone. The race was cancelled when no one could determine which brand to serve in the grandstands. Berg's sponsorship evaporated, as did his F1 ambitions.

Paul Tracy - Near the end of the 1994 season, IndyCar star Paul Tracy tested with Benetton. According to Tracy, when he arrived in Estoril for the test, Benetton boss Flavio Briatore refused to let him in the car unless Tracy signed the Italian as his manager. The stubborn-headed Canadian rejected the ploy, and rang up Ecclestone to complain. Bernie eventually smoothed things over and Tracy completed the test. Afterwards, Benetton offered a cut-rate, three-year contract, but Tracy opted for a $1.5 million deal with the Newman-Haas IndyCar team and never wedged himself in an F1 machine again.

Robert Wickens - Canada's most recent F1 hopeful was stunned when Helmut Marko dropped him from Red Bull's development program because he didn't win the 2009 F2 Championship (he finished second). Not to be deterred, the young Canadian kept his foot down and achieved a measure of revenge, beating Red Bull protégés Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne to the 2011 Formula Renault 3.5 title. That performance lead to a reserve driver role with Marussia and a practice run at the Abu Dhabi GP in 2011. It stands as the Maple Leaf's last appearance on F1 timesheets to date - that is until Stroll takes his nation's colours to the grid in 2017.

Bonne chance, Lance.

Brian Richardson
brianrich1@outlook.com

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READERS COMMENTS

 

1. Posted by -ape-, 05/11/2016 13:47

"who cares ... Gilles was the one and only"

Rating: Negative (-1)     Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by Capital devotee, 04/11/2016 15:10

"Hi Brian:

It appears that BILL BRACK was neglected. He had a turn driving both Lotus and BRM cars at Canadian GPs in the early 1970s. He was the Canadian Formula Atlantic champion - a predecessor of Gilles. His bio is on the net.

Ironically - one year, I bumped into him at a subway stop in Montreal. We were on our way to the track for the GP. He had formerly driven at the Canadian GP - and now his F1 career being over, he was taking public transport to spectate at the GP.

Ron
"

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