Know what is the history of the Groundhog day in the Canadian F1 GP as the 2022 edition of the grand prix beckons
Recently, Carlos Sainz was flying down a straight at the Montreal circuit near the end of the session in his Ferrari, only to have to brake hard to avoid hitting a creature that had scampered across the track. We take a look at the reason of issue, countermeasures by F1 and Historical Incidents.
A charming groundhog was seconds away from disaster after invading the track at an unfortunate time during the first practice session for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix.
F1 Canadian GP Groundhog Day Problem And History
History of Infamous Groundhogs at Canadian Grand Prix and Unfortunate Drivers to Hit Them
Why Groundhog Problem is Inevitable at Canadian Grand Prix and F1’s Countermeasures
The Ile-Notre-Dame hosted the first Formula One race in 1978, with home favourite Gilles Villeneuve collecting his first career victory in a Ferrari. As the event solidified its place on the schedule after Villeneuve’s death in 1982, the Montreal track was dubbed the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in his honor. F1 is returning to Canada for the first time since 2019 after two year’s worth of race was cancelled due to the pandemic, and drivers will face a familiar problem: groundhogs.
Groundhogs have long been present on the man-made island before somebody got the bright notion of racing vehicles around it. They are natural to the island, thus F1 must function as efficiently as possible despite their presence. Fences and barricades can be built in advance of the grand prix weekend, but any groundhog worth its salt will dig under or around them to gain access to the track.
Because scooping them out and evicting them for the weekend is impossible, F1 usually leaves it to chance and hopes drivers don’t hit any but some have indeed collided with groundhogs. Carlos Sainz almost escaped a collision with a brave groundhog crossing the track in the first practice session.
History of Groundhog Problem at Canadian Grand Prix and Consequences
Anthony Davidson, a Super Aguri driver, hit a groundhog during the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix. It ruined his vehicle, robbing the British driver of a strong points finish, if not better. In 2018, Romain Grosjean collided with a groundhog in Canadian Grand Prix FP2, destroying a front wing and leaving nothing of the sad animal. Sebastian Vettel almost dodged one in 2015, but it was a tight call.
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