Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Motorsport racing track on Notre Dame Island, Montreal, Canada
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motorsport racing track on Notre Dame Island in Montreal, Canada, stretching 4361 meters. The track combines tight chicanes with long straights along the Saint Lawrence River and finishes with a tight hairpin before the start-finish line.
Built and finished in 1978, the circuit was originally named the Île Notre-Dame Circuit. It was renamed in 1982 in honour of Canadian driver Gilles Villeneuve, who won the first Canadian Grand Prix held there in 1978 and died earlier that year. The park around it is named after mayor Jean Drapeau, who organised Expo 67.
The name honors Canadian racing driver Gilles Villeneuve, who died in 1982 and remains a legend in motorsport. Fans often visit the grounds outside race weekends and experience the same turns their heroes have taken at high speed.
From April to November, the track opens to cyclists and inline skaters outside race weekends. The course follows public paths that allow a full loop around the grounds and offer views of the river and city skyline.
The water of the Saint Lawrence River separates the track from the city and creates an unusual island setting for an urban race. Proximity to the river often brings cooler temperatures and shifting wind conditions during race weekends.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,787 contributors worldwide.
