Villeneuve started out racing snowmobiles and he has continued to race in snowmobile events throughout his career. He moved into
saloon racing in Canada, winning a
Honda Civic series and many races from 1976 to 1978. He then stepped up to the open-wheeler
Formula Ford category, and then Formula Atlantic, where he took Rookie of the Year in 1979, then consecutive titles in 1980 and 1981. He also won the
World Championship Snowmobile Derby in 1980. At the end of 1981, he took a pair of drives for the
Arrows Formula One team, but failed to qualify for the
Canadian Grand Prix, or the
Caesars Palace Grand Prix. In 1979, Villeneuve competed in the
Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash in a Porsche 928 co-piloted by John Lane (Gilles Villeneuve's sponsor and friend). 1982 started out with Villeneuve winning the World Championship Snowmobile Derby. The track was exceptionally hard caused by bitter cold, and his team set up his sled for the conditions. He took home $11,300 for his win, with cash and prizes totaling over $50,000. On February 16, 2013, having recovered and returned to racing, Villeneuve suffered another serious accident whilst competing in
Valcourt, sustaining a leg injury. He left hospital ten days later. "Uncle" Jacques Villeneuve was inducted into the
Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame in 2001. ==Racing record==