(Berthierville) The bronze statue of the famous Formula 1 driver Gilles Villeneuve which was erected in front of the museum dedicated to his memory, in Berthierville, was stolen. The museum is asking for the public’s help to find it before it is “melted.”
Posted at 10:29 a.m.
According to the museum management, the life-size statue was stolen during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. In photos shared by the museum, we can see that only the Quebec pilot’s feet remain on the base.
Museum management is asking the public to keep their eyes peeled, as they fear thieves will melt the statue and then sell it for bronze.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF THE MRC DE D’AUTRAY
In photos shared by the museum, we can see that only the Quebec pilot’s feet remain on the base.
The statue was made in 1984 by the sculptor Jules Lasalle, two years after the death of the winner of six Formula 1 Grand Prix. It spent a decade in a park, still in Berthierville, before being moved in front of the museum in 1994.
“It’s a great disappointment, especially for the people of the Berthierville community,” said Mr. Lasalle in an interview with The Canadian Press. It’s rare that people from small communities will get involved and then carry out a project to honor someone like that. »
Mr. Lasalle warns that thieves will not recover a large amount with the metal due to the weight.
“It’s tiny compared to all the work that is done to shape, to model,” he explained. It was a source of pride for us to have collaborated on this project, to have paid tribute to a person who was important to our history,” added the artist.
Reacting to the theft, the City of Berthierville maintained that the Villeneuve bronze is “much more than a simple monument”, since it “embodies the heritage and memory of Berthierville”.
“The City of Berthierville wishes to denounce this criminal act [qui porte] not only harms our heritage, but also deprives our community and motor sports fans of a strong symbol of our history,” the City wrote on social media.
Recognized for his talent and passion, Gilles Villeneuve took part in 67 Formula 1 Grands Prix, from 1977 to 1982, winning six races at the wheel of his Ferrari. He finished second in the drivers’ championship in 1979.
He died on May 8, 1982, at the age of 32, following an accident on track during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.
The circuit where the Canadian Grand Prix takes place, in Montreal, bears his name.
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