There has been little doubt lately that if only Schumacher's Ferrari would stay in one piece he would start winning races. In Hungary he was fastest in practice only to have his car expire under him during the race. For the first time since the rain in Spain the car held together and the double world champion won, but under totally different conditions. (I know he did come fourth at Hockenheim but that was nothing to shout about) Spa, scene of the Belgian Grand Prix is a majestic circuit with long straights, sweeping corners and with the odd first gear hairpin thrown n for good measure. It is known as the fastest and best circuit in the world and it takes a great driver to conquer it.
Whilst in practice the two Williams-Renault cars were dominant, straight after the start Michael passed Hill and started to chase Villeneuve .The little French-Canadian drove brilliantly, trying everything to narrow the gap between himself and team-mate Hill in the Drivers' Championship. Fate, in the shape of the Safety Car intervened. The Dutch driver Jos Verstappen had a huge crash from which he emerged with a sore neck but this car was scattered all over the track. The Safety Car came out whilst the debris was removed and as luck would have it Schumacher's fuel stop coincided with this incident. When things returned to normal he was in the lead if we disregarded the two McLaren cars in front of him which had to go in for new tyres and more fuel.
Villeneuve did all he could and after the second pit-stops there was nothing in it, Jacques was just a few yards behind Michael. As we all know catching Schumacher is one thing, passing him is something else. After a while the Williams driver gave up the struggle and settled for second place and six points. This reduced the difference between him and Hill to just 13 points with three races remaining .It could go to the wire.
After the race a deliriously happy Schumacher dragged the much-maligned team manager Jean Todt on to the rostrum to share in the adulation of the crowd. Asked about the race, for once the champion has difficulties finding the right words. "To do it in the dry against the two Williams cars" he said finally," is a dream come true. Half-way through the race I bent the steering and was afraid of a big accident. I nearly called it a day but the pit-crew advised me to stay out. I am glad I did! The accident during Friday's practice was unpleasant but luckily my knee held out during the race. The start was fine and now I feel wonderful". Now it is on to Monza and the Italian Grand Prix. After this fantastic victory the tifosi are probably already on their way.
Damon Hill struggled all week-end. He claims he is well but looks really drawn and worried. I think he was under the impression that Villeneuve was just going to be a back-up driver, someone to hold up the others whilst he disappeared in the distance. He obviously did not follow the little French-Canadian's progress in the Indy series last year. The way Jacques learned the track-with the help of a video game-to end up on pole was uncanny. As was the way he and Schumacher diced during the first laps before the Safety Car intervened.
Mika Hakkinen's third place was just reward for all the hard work he, the team and Alain Prost put into developing the car. It is shame that Coulthard in the other McLaren crashed out near the end of the race. It is extraordinary how the Benetton-Renault cars just cannot get a grip on the situation, they are constantly off the pace. Yet,Gerhard Berger managed to achieve the fastest lap of the race. Unfortunately for him far too late as he only managed 6th place. Team-mate Alesi was fourth, nearly 20 seconds behind the winner. Several cars were eliminated on the first corner of the first lap, the two car Sauber team lasted just 200 yards! Monaco winner Olivier Panis was also a 200 yarder! Talking of which it was wonderful to see double Olympic champion and world record holder Michael Johnson present the champagne to the winner. He is over here in Europe for a series of races and whoever thought of having him at Spa did a great job. One thing he did not expect but got all the same was a champagne bath. For once his start from the rostrum was too slow and he got caught in the cross-spray! May that be the worst thing that will ever happen to him.
With just Monza, Estoril and Suzuka remaining the maximum number of points up for grabs is 30.The gap at the top between Damon and Jacques is just 13.It is a promoter's dream with everything to play for. If Villeneuve wins at Monza-a track he knows well-we may all be up all night watching the final shoot-out in Suzuka. BIG NEWS DEPT!! According to the British newspaper Sunday Business a number of teams-Williams, McLaren & Tyrrell-are very unhappy with the way the money is being shared out. The suggestion is that Ecclestone is taking too big a slice from the cake .The teams would like more. A boxing promoter by the name of Frank Warren offered to start a rival championship series with more of the money going to the teams. Warren recently arranged the Tyson-Burn fight in Las Vegas so he is not a newcomer to big events and big money deals. It is early days yet, there will be lots of tough negotiations but as always the Auto Channel will be there to give you the news as it happens.
