By BAR F1 (08/06/2004)
June 8 2004

The Canadian Grand Prix is run on a temporary circuit situated on Ile Notre-Dame - a man-made island in the middle of the St Lawrence Seaway, close to central Montreal. Set amongst lakes and parkland pavilions used in the Expo '67, and alongside the 1976 Olympic Games rowing basin, this unusual track has frequently been the scene of high drama.

The start of the race is usually incident-packed, with four opening-lap collisions in the last six years. Generally though, drivers enjoy the track, which gives reasonable overtaking opportunities and requires medium levels of downforce.

However, it is unlikely that the hard-working Formula One teams share their drivers' enthusiasm. With so many fast blasts, slow chicanes and hairpins, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is now even harder on brakes and gearboxes, and has a reputation for being a real car-breaker.br>
Honda-powered drivers have won at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve four times (Nigel Mansell in 1986, Ayrton Senna in 1988 and 1990 and Gerhard Berger in 1992) and have been on the podium seven times.