Jacques Villeneuve enjoyed the view from the top step of a podium for the first time in 13 years, the 1997 F1 world champion winning on Saturday a round of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series in Vallelunga.
Villeneuve, who qualified second at the wheel of his Academy Motorsport/Alex Caffi Motorsport Euro NASCAR FJ, overcame a 5-second penalty for jumping the start to grab his maiden win in the series.
The Canadian was pressured throughout the 18-lap race by reigning EuroNASCAR champion Alon Day but succeeded in fending off the latter's attacks to bring it home by a 6-second margin.
"Finally, it’s been a long time coming!" said an ecstatic Villeneuve.
"We have been fighting at the front a lot and the car was good in qualifying. We had a hard time in free practice but in qualifying the car was really amazing.
"I didn’t have to lift on the outside of turn 1. I just went for it and Alon lifted it."
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Villeneuve, who last raced in F1 in 2006 with BMW-Sauber, and who enjoyed his final Grand Prix win at the Luxembourg GP at the Nürburgring in 1997 with Williams, clinched in Italy his first victory since winning a round of the 2008 Le Mans Series with Peugeot.
The 50-year-old racer currently sits P9 in the EuroNASCAR Pro Championship ahead of Sunday's second race in Vallelunga and final round, with Dutchman Loris Hezemans topping the series' standings.
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