René Arnoux and Gilles Villeneuve, the clash of titans

Born on July 4, 1948, René Arnoux shares the same spirit of inde- pendence as the founders of the United States. From his child- hood, René Arnoux is gifted for driving. It all started in the 1950s. He was only eight years old when, on vacation with his parents on the Adriatic coast, the family passed by a karting track. “Dad, I want to try!” No sooner said than done, and here he was ins- talled somehow (being not tall), driving a kart. Despite its small size, it shows astonishing natural ability. This sport was quite new, especially in Italy where there were still many Ameri- can troops. The person in charge couldn’t believe the kid’s natu- ral ability was so obvious.

It is therefore on vacation that he discovered the passion that would never leave him, piloting. During the 1960s, he followed the existing ways which highlighted the most promising pi- lots of their time. Meanwhile, he received professional training from a mechanical “wizard”, familiar to post-war Alfa Romeo enthusiasts, Conrero. There he learned the precision mechanics that he loved and two things that young pilots no longer know. Knowledge of mechanics and its limits. But above all, the contact and respect of those who prepare the car for the race the next day. Today, this human respect is replaced by screens.

On the sporting level, he would thus be crowned “Volant Shell” in 1972. This crown opened the way to a magnificent career for him.

The person in charge couldn’t believe the kid’s natural ability.

Take a look at his incredible career. Judge for yourself, he won the Formula Renault European Challenge in 1973 and the Formula Renault Europe Challenge in 1975. In 1977 he became the Formula 2 European Champion. He went directly to F1 in the team of Tico Martini, novice in the first category. While it shined in the F3 and especially F2 categories, the step of F1 was too high, which led to the withdrawal of the Martini team during the season. After a brief stint at Surtees, also in great difficulty, the doors of the “national” Renault team opened in 1979. At the time when the racing team was promising with its turbo engine. The team would only win one GP, that of France! But this victory, won by Jabouille, was not remembered, while the fight between the two “knights of risk”, Villeneuve and Arnoux, made an impression during decades.

“The man in charge can’t believe the kid’s obvious natural ability.”

Let’s rewind we are on the difficult circuit of Dijon, when seven laps from the end, these two men, united by a solid friendship outside the paddocks, are nonetheless fierce rivals on the track, Arnoux having joined Villeneuve decides to engage in a merciless struggle. For those who followed the live broadcast of Jacques Deschenaux, an unri- valled commentator in this discipline, he almost lost his voice, so hot it was. René remembers that the two single-seaters, launched at more than 200 km/h, touched each other 7 times in the last three laps! Gilles finished 2nd and René 3rd, few people remember who was first! René likes to tell another story of his complicity with Gilles Villeneuve.

At US GP practice at Watkins Glen we were chatting, and Gilles asked me: “The curve at the bottom of the straight before the pits, are you going full speed?” I answered him that no, I re- lieved at the entrance then gas thoroughly. “Me too”, he replied. But I wondered if it was okay. When free practice resumed after a few laps, I saw Gilles’ car destroyed in the rails. Without losing a second, I went out to see if Gilles was not injured. He was in great shape and said in my ear “the bottom curve, it does not pass full throttle”! That says a lot about this beautiful camaraderie tinged with rivalry. We can easily imagine his horror when, after hitting the back of Jochen Mass, Gilles was killed by falling head first on the track after his seat was torn from the frame.

René Arnoux won the Brazilian and South African GPs in 1980, then France and Italy with Renault. His results at Renault were closely watched at Maranello. So, one fine day, he received a call from Italy to arrange an appointment with the “Commandatore” himself! As he still remembers, “when you have such an appoint- ment, nothing else matters and the feverishness wins over you. I don’t tell you when you have him in front of you”. Everything was decided during this meeting. As there were two personalities who relied on authenticity, there’s been a real spark between the two men, and a simple handshake later, it was agreed that René would wear the racing suit that every F1 driver dreams of, that of the prancing horse for the 1983 season!

But the “boss” used to wait for the Italian GP to announce the transfers. However, this GP was won by René Arnoux ahead of Tambay and Andretti. The opportunity was perfect to declare “to- day, there are three Ferrari drivers on the podium”, thereby for- malizing his arrival at the Scuderia!

This is the beginning of a fantastic story between these two men united by a passion for mechanics. During a trip to Fiorano in 2021, René confided something to me on the terrace overlooking the track: “Do you see the little house in the middle? This is where Mr. Ferrari liked to have his meal, and sometimes as I went through private practice laps, his butler would come to the side of the track and stop me to say, Mr. Ferrari would like to have lunch with you.” There followed a one-on-one without witnesses during which the pilot explained his feelings to the “father”! Such closeness is unthinkable today. It was another era, René willingly confides with great gratitude towards the one he still respectfully calls “Monsieur Ferrari”. This gratitude contrasts with those who, once thanked, have ne- ver ceased to criticize. It must be noted that it is at the wheel of Scuderia single-seaters that he has won the most victories in a season. During the 1983 season, he won the GP of Canada, the Netherlands and Germany.

When you have an appointment like that, nothing else matters and you’re overcome with excitement.

The departure from Ferrari will remain a mystery well kept by René. However, it would never affect his deep admiration for “Monsieur Ferrari”. He would continue at Ligier. Unfortunately the machines were not competitive enough and René retired from competition after a brilliant career of 162 races, 18 pole po- sitions, 22 podiums, a third place in the F1 world championship in 1983 and above all 7 victories in GP. Small precision, in 1983 Ferrari won the title “constructor”. René told me about a conver- sation during which the “Commandatore” said to him: “Bring me back the constructor’s title, and as for the pilots’ title, help your- self out”.