Report

The drama started from the moment the cars were on the grid. There was
frantic activity around Schumacher's car, and also around the sister car of
Irvine. Salo had changed to his T-car due to a water leak, and Adrian Newey
was worried about the high engine revs on the cars. As the cars left on the
formation lap one car didn't - the Ferrari of Schumacher. The Magnetti
Marelli technicians swarmed around the car, and soon it was off on its
merry way. This gave an empty spot infront of Irvine. Could this lead to a
demon start from the Ulsterman?

As it turned out, no it did not. Hill was away into the lead, with
Villeneuve challenging and trying very hard to get by at the first corner.
He didn't suceed, and Hill set off into the distance. Alesi was in third,
with Irvine behind him. Brundle too had made a good start and was in 7th
and charging - this was to a good race for the Englishman.

 Hill  Villeneuve  Alesi  Irvine  Hakkinen Berger
 1 lap      2.052  2.943   3.321     4.447  5.010

Schumacher was trying hard to make up the places he had lost - all 18 of
them. He was already up to 17th. The sister Ferrari was not having such an
easy time - it suddenly slowed down and made its way back to the pits - it
later transpired to be a left-front pushrod breaking. Hill, meanwhile, was
charging at the front and setting fastest laps.

 Hill   Villeneuve  Alesi  Hakkinen  Berger Brundle
 2 laps      2.906  3.821     5.443   6.236   6.628
 3 laps      3.354  4.243     6.313   6.930   7.475
 4 laps      3.223  4.030     6.927   7.245   7.769

At this stage of the race, it was Brundle who was the man to watch. The
transformation of his drives compared to recent races is remarkable.
Brundle was soon able to dispose of Hakkinen, and up to 4th. Barrichello
had seen what Brundle had done, and tried to do the same on Hakkinen. It
didn't work. Katayama was soon to add his name to the list of retirements
after tangling with Rosset. The Japanese driver was, however, the cause of
the accident. The Tyrrell was passing Rosset, who kindly gave him room. The
Tyrrell lost control and slammed into Rosset, taking both out in the
process. Schumacher was now up to 14th place, and there he was to stay for
a very long time, making exceedingly heavy work of passing Salo. Hill now
had 5 seconds over his team-mate, and was extending it all the time.
Barrichello eventually took the McLaren of Hakkinen, and was up into the
points in a brilliant late-breaking move. By lap 11 the order was Hill,
Villeneuve, Alesi, Berger, Brundle, Barrichello, Hakkinen, Frentzen,
Coulthard, Panis, Verstappen, Herbert, Salo, Schumacher, Diniz, Fisichella,
Badoer and Montermini.

In the mid-field there was a Frentzen-Coulthard-Panis sandwich. The three
appeared to be glued together, such was the closeness of the contest. Lap
16:

 Hill    Villeneuve  Alesi   Berger  Brundle Barrichello
 16 Laps      6.751  11.609  13.250   17.149      21.986

Villeneuve was now hitting back, and set a fastest lap of 1m22.857. At the
back of the field, Montermini was pitting. Schumacher was still stuck
behind Salo, though now in 13th place. The Herbert-Salo-Schumacher deal was
very close indeed. Hill retaliated to his team-mate on lap 18 with a
1m22.775s. More was clearly available, as the following lap came a 1m22.676
then a 1m22.412s. The Forti of Montermini was still running after its trip
to collect the free glasses, and was wobbling all over the place - clearly
they had come out of the glove box. Soon Montermini was to be found
spinning of the track after being frightened by an approaching Williams of
Villeneuve. Meanwhile, Brundle was charging after the 2 Benettons in front.
Barichello, meanwhile, pitted in 11 seconds, and looked set for a two
stopper. He was in again, and again, and retired. The "In" board was now
out for Hill, and in he came with a 9.4 second stop.

 Villeneuve Hill   Alesi   Berger  Hakkinen Coulthard
 28 laps    5.047  13.348  14.250    29.054    30.469

Villeneuve now looked to be set for a 1 stopper. Schumacher had also made
progress, though by virtue of other cars pitting. He was now up to 9th. On
lap 31, both Hill and Villeneuve were flying - first Villeneuve set a
1m22.353, then Hill crossed the line and set a 1m22.266s. Schumacher,
meanwhile, was having an unusual problem - he was being persued by Diniz!
This gave a big clue to the problems the German was having in the Ferrari.
It was now that it was revealed that Hills last set of tyres were his last
new ones, and the next set would be used ones. On lap 36, Berger pitted in
11.9 seconds. He rejoined the race behind Coulthard and Hakkinen, and just
ahead of Brundle. Finally Villeneuve pitted in 11.5 seconds. This allowed
Hill into the lead, and we had the rare situation of the two Williams'
being on different pit strategies. Which would pay off? For Hill to take
advantage he needed a 30 second cussion by his next pit stop..... Hakkinen
was having dramas for McLaren - he came up behind a Minardi and went off.
He pitted and was out in 10.9 seconds. Hill had a lead of 20 seconds by lap
36. On lap 42, Schumacher pitted. On the way out of the pits a huge piece
of metal shot from the car - it later transpired to be a driveshaft......
The left-front wheel was also at a funny angle, and soon the car slowed and
stopped. Hill now had a 23 second lead over Villeneuve. Lamy was the next
to retire after being assaulted by the Jordan of Brundle. The Minardi was
out on the spot, the Jordan limped round to the pits and had a new
nose-cone fitted after ruining the front wing. Coming up to lap 49, Hill
had a 28 second lead - enough to pit and keep the lead.

On lap 49 the Williams of Hill did indeed pit, and rejoined in the lead
after a superb 8.6 second stop.

 Hill   Villeneuve  Alesi   Coulthard  Hakkinen Herbert
 Lap 50     13.661  35.547     54.127  1m18.614 +1 lap

Brundle was once again on a charge, and after the Sauber of Herbert.
Brundle took the Sauber on the mainstraight. By now Hill had a comfortable
11 seconds lead over Villeneuve, and he in turn had 22 seconds over Alesi.
By lap 58 the gap was down to 8.6 seconds between the two Williams', but
now prospect of real challenge. The race settled down, and the gap narrowed
in fractions of a second over the coming laps. Hill, however, took the flag
as one of only 8 finishers.....

            1. Hill 1h36:03.46
            2. Villeneuve +4.1
            3. Alesi +54.656
            4. Coulthard +1m03.673
            5. Hakkinen +1 lap
            6. Brundle +1 lap
            7. Fisichella +1 lap


-- 
Stephen M Baines

 "[The Autosport sticker] started to peel off in the middle of Eau Rouge
 and it distracted me. In fact it was the first thing to hit the barrier"
    Tiff Needell - Jaguar XJR-15 Challenge - Interview with Autosport

       F1/TouringCars http://metro.turnpike.net/vollans/index.html