Great Results

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2:43:54 > 2:43:56ENGINES REV

2:43:56 > 2:43:59MUSIC: The Chain by Fleetwood Mac

2:44:06 > 2:44:09ENGINES REV MORE FURIOUSLY

2:45:10 > 2:45:13Hello and welcome to F1 Rewind, with the great Murray Walker,

2:45:13 > 2:45:15and today we're talking about great results.

2:45:15 > 2:45:18We're going to spool through three different decades, aren't we?

2:45:18 > 2:45:23Starting with the '80s. 1982, Austria. Set the scene for us.

2:45:23 > 2:45:26'82 season, Suzi, was amazing.

2:45:26 > 2:45:28It was full of incident, from the beginning to the end.

2:45:28 > 2:45:31Some of it good and some of it bad.

2:45:31 > 2:45:34Right at the beginning of the season, the San Marino Grand Prix,

2:45:34 > 2:45:37the two Ferrari drivers, Gilles Villeneuve and Didier Pironi,

2:45:37 > 2:45:40have a spat about who was going to win,

2:45:40 > 2:45:43as a result of which, at the next race at Zolder in Belgium,

2:45:43 > 2:45:47Gilles Villeneuve very sadly lost his life.

2:45:47 > 2:45:50Then we had the Monaco Grand Prix, that amazing last lap,

2:45:50 > 2:45:54when we had four different leaders, and Patrese came home to win.

2:45:54 > 2:45:58In Germany, Didier Pironi had a terrible crash

2:45:58 > 2:46:00and that was the end of his Grand Prix career.

2:46:00 > 2:46:03And when we came to the Austrian Grand Prix, which was well

2:46:03 > 2:46:07at the end of the season, Didier Pironi still led the championship.

2:46:07 > 2:46:09We'd had eight different winners.

2:46:09 > 2:46:14The turbo cars against the normally aspirated cars failed in that race.

2:46:14 > 2:46:18For one reason or another, the turbos failed to get the job done.

2:46:18 > 2:46:22And the last lap was a real nailbiter

2:46:22 > 2:46:25because Elio de Angelis was leading in the Lotus,

2:46:25 > 2:46:28and he was being caught very rapidly

2:46:28 > 2:46:32indeed by Keke Rosberg, Nico Rosberg's father, in the Williams.

2:46:32 > 2:46:34And then, when they went across the line,

2:46:34 > 2:46:405/100ths of a second separated them, with de Angelis winning.

2:46:40 > 2:46:42- Fabulous. - It doesn't get much closer than that.

2:46:42 > 2:46:46Here it is, then, the 1982 Austrian Grand Prix.

2:47:02 > 2:47:05- MURRAY WALKER:- The Osterreichring has the most beautiful setting

2:47:05 > 2:47:08of any Grand Prix circuit. But it's not just beautiful,

2:47:08 > 2:47:10it's tremendously demanding, too,

2:47:10 > 2:47:13for its 3.7-mile lap is hair-raisingly fast,

2:47:13 > 2:47:17and makes really hard work for the drivers and for the tyres, too,

2:47:17 > 2:47:22because of its unique combination of speed, and track surface.

2:47:22 > 2:47:24The Osterreichring is tailor-made

2:47:24 > 2:47:26for the increasingly dominant turbos,

2:47:26 > 2:47:30so it's no surprise that Nelson Piquet is in pole position

2:47:30 > 2:47:35with his Brabham-BMW, at a staggering 151.7 miles an hour.

2:47:35 > 2:47:393/10ths of a second faster than his team-mate, Riccardo Patrese.

2:47:39 > 2:47:41Then, three more turbos.

2:47:41 > 2:47:43Prost's Renault, Tambay's Ferrari,

2:47:43 > 2:47:45and Arnoux's Renault,

2:47:45 > 2:47:49with Rosberg's Williams the fastest non-turbo in sixth place.

2:47:51 > 2:47:54And they're away. They're coming through from the back,

2:47:54 > 2:47:57and Keke Rosberg, who has already...

2:47:57 > 2:48:00And, there... There's some trouble, straight into the alcove.

2:48:00 > 2:48:02Can't identify for the moment.

2:48:02 > 2:48:06But as they surge away, let's have a closer look.

2:48:06 > 2:48:08There's two cars identified there,

2:48:08 > 2:48:10and a third one going off on the side,

2:48:10 > 2:48:13a fourth joining from the pit road as he's gone out wide,

2:48:13 > 2:48:17and we will identify as quickly as we possibly can.

2:48:17 > 2:48:20We're looking at the track while I talk to you.

2:48:20 > 2:48:24We can't see, but it looks already as though four cars

2:48:24 > 2:48:29are out on lap one. Meantime, it's one of the Brabhams in the lead,

2:48:29 > 2:48:32it's Piquet, Nelson Piquet, the reigning world champion,

2:48:32 > 2:48:35followed by his team-mate, Riccardo Patrese,

2:48:35 > 2:48:38and Piquet, as they're coming down towards the Bosch Kurve

2:48:38 > 2:48:41with Prost in third position, then Tambay,

2:48:41 > 2:48:44then Arnoux, the de Angelis, then Rosberg,

2:48:44 > 2:48:48then Alboreto. And Derek Warwick is in about tenth position.

2:48:48 > 2:48:51Rosberg made a terrific start from the third row of the grid

2:48:51 > 2:48:53and he's very keen to do well today.

2:48:53 > 2:48:56He is determined to win a Grand Prix before the end of the season

2:48:56 > 2:48:58and accumulate as many points as possible,

2:48:58 > 2:49:01but it's going to be a hard battle for him here against the turbos.

2:49:01 > 2:49:03Although he qualified fantastically well.

2:49:03 > 2:49:05And here is a replay of the start.

2:49:05 > 2:49:08Now, let's try and identify the cars for you.

2:49:08 > 2:49:11Yes, Rosberg you see on the top right-hand corner

2:49:11 > 2:49:14of the picture made a terrific start.

2:49:14 > 2:49:16Rosberg going up against the pit wall.

2:49:16 > 2:49:18And just about now we've got a couple of cars...

2:49:18 > 2:49:23Here we are, a collision, maybe it's an Alfa. Two Alfas colliding.

2:49:23 > 2:49:25And there's a puncture on Tambay on the Ferrari.

2:49:25 > 2:49:27He's trying to get the car around to the pits.

2:49:27 > 2:49:31And Alboreto has hit the barrier, he's parked against it.

2:49:31 > 2:49:33It looks like there's been some sort of action,

2:49:33 > 2:49:35but we've missed the main excitement.

2:49:35 > 2:49:39With Patrese now leading from Nelson Piquet,

2:49:39 > 2:49:43we can see that Michele Alboreto is out. The leaders go past.

2:49:43 > 2:49:46And in third position, it is Prost behind,

2:49:46 > 2:49:48then Arnoux in fourth position.

2:49:48 > 2:49:52de Angelis in the John Player Special is in fifth place.

2:49:52 > 2:49:54In sixth place is Nigel Mansell,

2:49:54 > 2:49:57seventh is Rosberg and, in eighth position,

2:49:57 > 2:50:00it is Derek Warwick in the Toleman. Now, look at this.

2:50:01 > 2:50:05You ought to see if the Brabhams have got it right.

2:50:05 > 2:50:09They're building up at least a second per lap

2:50:09 > 2:50:11increase in their lead.

2:50:11 > 2:50:13And it's Patrese leading now from Piquet,

2:50:13 > 2:50:16and Renault is holding on.

2:50:16 > 2:50:19And that is Patrick Tambay into the pits.

2:50:19 > 2:50:23And, as usual, they're changing not only the tyre that has been damaged,

2:50:23 > 2:50:25but all the other three as well.

2:50:25 > 2:50:29And to frenzied applause from the crowd,

2:50:29 > 2:50:33Patrick Tambay in the V6 turbo charged Ferrari accelerates away,

2:50:33 > 2:50:35a long way down,

2:50:35 > 2:50:39and I wonder if we are now going to see an epic drive by the Frenchman.

2:50:39 > 2:50:44And that is Teo Fabi in the Toleman,

2:50:44 > 2:50:46who was in seventh position.

2:50:46 > 2:50:49And Derek Warwick, too, is out of the race!

2:50:49 > 2:50:55Well, this is appalling luck for the Toleman team because Teo Fabi

2:50:55 > 2:50:58and Derek Warwick have gone out of the race on the same lap,

2:50:58 > 2:51:01when we were hoping they were going to do so well.

2:51:01 > 2:51:04And with Niki Lauda, number eight,

2:51:04 > 2:51:07being followed by Nigel Mansell across the line, the order is

2:51:07 > 2:51:12still Riccardo Patrese in the Brabham-BMW leading Nelson Piquet.

2:51:12 > 2:51:14In third position it is still Prost.

2:51:14 > 2:51:16In fourth position it is still Arnoux.

2:51:16 > 2:51:20Fifth is Elio de Angelis. Sixth is Keke Rosberg.

2:51:20 > 2:51:22In seventh place it is Jacques Laffite.

2:51:22 > 2:51:26In eighth place it is Brian Henton. Arnoux to the pits.

2:51:26 > 2:51:29And the Frenchman, who had trouble in practice

2:51:29 > 2:51:33when he broke his gearbox, is effectively out of the points.

2:51:35 > 2:51:38I seem to say it every Grand Prix, I don't know what's wrong with

2:51:38 > 2:51:41Renault, but they really are making a terrible mess of a job that

2:51:41 > 2:51:43until this season they appeared to be doing very well.

2:51:43 > 2:51:46The two Brabham drivers have arrived at a very interesting situation.

2:51:46 > 2:51:49Should they go the full distance... And Nelson Piquet is in the pits!

2:51:49 > 2:51:51Yes, this is it!

2:51:51 > 2:51:55Nelson Piquet now for the first time you see the much expected

2:51:55 > 2:51:57Brabham pit stop.

2:51:57 > 2:52:00We didn't get a stopwatch on it, I'm afraid, but it's a very quick one.

2:52:00 > 2:52:02There is the fuel going in,

2:52:02 > 2:52:06and you can see the mechanics have all got fireproof suits on.

2:52:06 > 2:52:11We look at Elio de Angelis in third position on lap 23.

2:52:11 > 2:52:15The race being led by Riccardo Patrese from Alain Prost

2:52:15 > 2:52:18in second place, Elio de Angelis in third position,

2:52:18 > 2:52:20Nelson Piquet fourth,

2:52:20 > 2:52:22with Keke Rosberg right behind him in fifth place,

2:52:22 > 2:52:26and Jacques Laffite in sixth position, but with 30 laps to go.

2:52:26 > 2:52:30And here is Riccardo Patrese coming into the pits.

2:52:30 > 2:52:34So, let's see how a really expert, well-trained team deals with it.

2:52:40 > 2:52:43And it has been done sensationally quickly

2:52:43 > 2:52:48because it took only 14 seconds from the time the wheels stopped

2:52:48 > 2:52:50to the time the wheels started turning again.

2:52:50 > 2:52:53And Patrese has not only gone through

2:52:53 > 2:52:55but he has retained his lead!

2:52:55 > 2:52:58Yes, Riccardo Patrese has gone out just in front.

2:52:58 > 2:53:00He's not got cold tyres, you can see the car sliding about.

2:53:00 > 2:53:04And Alain Prost went past but he can't be very far behind now

2:53:04 > 2:53:08because he went past the pits just as Patrese was going

2:53:08 > 2:53:11up the hill into the first corner. Well, they've settled down now.

2:53:11 > 2:53:14For the time being, it certainly looks as if Patrese

2:53:14 > 2:53:16and Prost are pretty evenly matched,

2:53:16 > 2:53:19and we may well have a good run to the finish on our hands.

2:53:19 > 2:53:22Patrese's pit stop, I have to say...

2:53:22 > 2:53:23Oh!

2:53:23 > 2:53:25That is Patrese! Off!

2:53:25 > 2:53:29Patrese off in the lead and the crowd floods forward.

2:53:29 > 2:53:34And now sensation, and I guess, maybe, and I am hypothesising,

2:53:34 > 2:53:38he looks all right, but his tyres were not yet warm.

2:53:38 > 2:53:42It seems very surprising. He has been going strong for quite a while.

2:53:42 > 2:53:45Anyway, it's now all up to Nelson Piquet,

2:53:45 > 2:53:48who is therefore up into third position immediately,

2:53:48 > 2:53:51and, once again, it is a Renault reading a Grand Prix

2:53:51 > 2:53:56with Riccardo Patrese sensationally out of the race

2:53:56 > 2:54:00on lap 29/53.

2:54:00 > 2:54:02Here is a replay of Patrese going off.

2:54:04 > 2:54:06I have a suspicion that something...

2:54:06 > 2:54:09Some steam or something is coming out of Patrese's car.

2:54:09 > 2:54:13I think what may have happened is that the engine may have blown,

2:54:13 > 2:54:17and thrown water or something or steam on the tyres or oil

2:54:17 > 2:54:19onto the tyres, but certainly

2:54:19 > 2:54:22it looks like it wasn't Patrese's fault.

2:54:22 > 2:54:23It certainly wasn't cold tyres.

2:54:23 > 2:54:26They've had plenty of time to get warm.

2:54:26 > 2:54:28But there was definitely some sort of fluid

2:54:28 > 2:54:30coming out underneath the car,

2:54:30 > 2:54:33getting underneath the tyres, making the car completely uncontrollable.

2:54:33 > 2:54:37Now you see the gap between Nelson Piquet and Keke Rosberg,

2:54:37 > 2:54:41and it's quite clear that Piquet cannot go as fast,

2:54:41 > 2:54:45for whatever reason now, as he was going before he came in

2:54:45 > 2:54:47to refuel and gets new tyres.

2:54:47 > 2:54:49And Alain Prost, on lap 31,

2:54:49 > 2:54:54is leading Elio de Angelis by some 27 seconds with Piquet

2:54:54 > 2:54:58about 12 seconds behind de Angelis in third position.

2:54:58 > 2:55:01Keke Rosberg is right with... And there is Tommy Byrne.

2:55:01 > 2:55:04Tommy Byrne is out of his first Grand Prix.

2:55:04 > 2:55:08It looks to me as though he spun off because look at the nose of the car.

2:55:10 > 2:55:14And Piquet is slowing. As we look at Niki Lauda,

2:55:14 > 2:55:16who is in seventh position,

2:55:16 > 2:55:19I can tell you that Piquet is not only slowing, he's stopped.

2:55:19 > 2:55:22He's running backwards because Keke Rosberg

2:55:22 > 2:55:24has gone up into third position.

2:55:24 > 2:55:26There is the world champion.

2:55:26 > 2:55:29And, again, both Brabhams are out of the race.

2:55:29 > 2:55:32Piquet is coasting backwards down the hill,

2:55:32 > 2:55:35which leads up to the Hella-Licht chicane,

2:55:35 > 2:55:37and that's just clear of the pits.

2:55:37 > 2:55:40So, Piquet is running backwards into the pits.

2:55:40 > 2:55:44I think he's just parking it out of the way to get it off the circuit.

2:55:44 > 2:55:45The interesting thing at the moment,

2:55:45 > 2:55:49I think, is that in this very, very hot race,

2:55:49 > 2:55:54there is now only one turbo car, effectively, in the running.

2:55:54 > 2:55:59Well, I wonder what's going through Alain Prost's mind now?

2:56:00 > 2:56:02It's the usual situation, I think.

2:56:02 > 2:56:0631-second lead is more than adequately comfortable

2:56:06 > 2:56:10and he'll be doing the normal tactics for a man with a big lead.

2:56:10 > 2:56:14That's slowing it down, cutting down the revs of his engine.

2:56:14 > 2:56:16In fact, Renault, I believe,

2:56:16 > 2:56:19don't give their drivers a turbo boost control

2:56:19 > 2:56:21in the cockpit of their cars,

2:56:21 > 2:56:23which always seems to me pretty stupid,

2:56:23 > 2:56:27because if I was driving the car now and I had a boost control,

2:56:27 > 2:56:30I'd be able to turn down the boost on my turbo.

2:56:30 > 2:56:32I was speaking to Gordon Murray this morning at Brabham

2:56:32 > 2:56:34and he was saying that they give their drivers control.

2:56:34 > 2:56:37It depends whether you trust your driver or not.

2:56:37 > 2:56:38Well, I said to him, quite frankly,

2:56:38 > 2:56:41anybody who hires a driver they don't trust

2:56:41 > 2:56:44has done something fundamentally wrong in the first place,

2:56:44 > 2:56:46so it's a pretty silly attitude for the team to take.

2:56:46 > 2:56:47If they can't trust their driver,

2:56:47 > 2:56:50I don't know what they're going motor racing for.

2:56:50 > 2:56:53Well, we may be headed for a little bit of interest around second place

2:56:53 > 2:56:57because Keke Rosberg has slowly but surely been chipping away at the gap

2:56:57 > 2:57:01with Elio de Angelis and he's now only six seconds behind him -

2:57:01 > 2:57:02and Watson in trouble.

2:57:02 > 2:57:04Can't see what's wrong,

2:57:04 > 2:57:06but he doesn't appear to be hurrying into the pits,

2:57:06 > 2:57:08so by the way he's cruising around,

2:57:08 > 2:57:12that looks, sadly, to be the end of John Watson's race.

2:57:12 > 2:57:18On that 48, the race order is Alain Prost leading by 30 seconds.

2:57:18 > 2:57:21Elio de Angelis, less than four seconds almost now,

2:57:21 > 2:57:23ahead of Keke Rosberg, who is third.

2:57:23 > 2:57:28Jacques Laffite is fourth, Niki Lauda is in fifth position,

2:57:28 > 2:57:31Patrick Tambay is ahead of Baldi, seventh.

2:57:31 > 2:57:35Serra is eighth and John Watson is out of the race now.

2:57:35 > 2:57:41So, there are only eight runners on lap 49 in this 53-lap race.

2:57:41 > 2:57:46Here is the battle for second place and that is Prost - Prost's car!

2:57:46 > 2:57:50The Renault is in flames! The race leader is out!

2:57:50 > 2:57:52Alain Prost... It's happened yet again.

2:57:52 > 2:57:55First of all, Arnoux out - now, Prost out.

2:57:55 > 2:57:58And we're going to have Elio de Angelis or Keke Rosberg

2:57:58 > 2:58:00winning the Austrian Grand Prix.

2:58:00 > 2:58:02What incredible drama!

2:58:02 > 2:58:07Well, there we go, and that looked like blown turbochargers.

2:58:07 > 2:58:10Alain Prost very disappointed, very angry with the car

2:58:10 > 2:58:16and I have to say that I think it might be coincidental -

2:58:16 > 2:58:18on the other hand, it might well be relevant -

2:58:18 > 2:58:20what I was saying just a little while ago,

2:58:20 > 2:58:24about Renault not trusting their drivers to give them a boost knob.

2:58:24 > 2:58:27As well as being good for reliability in the race,

2:58:27 > 2:58:29it's also good to be able to turn it up, just to pass somebody,

2:58:29 > 2:58:32to get a little bit of extra power when needed.

2:58:32 > 2:58:35If you don't trust your driver, you ask for trouble.

2:58:35 > 2:58:38And what a grandstand finish it's going to be

2:58:38 > 2:58:40for the Austrian Grand Prix.

2:58:40 > 2:58:42There is the fiercely charging Keke Rosberg,

2:58:42 > 2:58:45coming up now to complete lap 51.

2:58:45 > 2:58:47Laffite is still third.

2:58:47 > 2:58:49Tambay fourth, Lauda, fifth.

2:58:49 > 2:58:51Baldi and the Arrows, sixth

2:58:51 > 2:58:53and the gap between De Angelis and Rosberg

2:58:53 > 2:58:57is now down to 2.2 seconds

2:58:57 > 2:58:59as they go into the Hella-Licht chicane.

2:58:59 > 2:59:02That is the third gear, as they come out of it,

2:59:02 > 2:59:07accelerate away up to 175mph towards the flat curve.

2:59:07 > 2:59:10Well, De Angelis has got enough to keep his lead, to stay in front.

2:59:10 > 2:59:13That, he's proved. His big problem is to stay cool,

2:59:13 > 2:59:15because if he starts to get flustered,

2:59:15 > 2:59:19he runs the risk of making a mistake and/or driving messily

2:59:19 > 2:59:21and that will take speed off,

2:59:21 > 2:59:24because when he drives smoothly and coolly

2:59:24 > 2:59:28and he has been doing that some laps, he's got a bit ragged on others.

2:59:28 > 2:59:31But when he drives it smoothly, he keeps his lead in front of Rosberg.

2:59:31 > 2:59:33But Rosberg is steadily chipping away

2:59:33 > 2:59:36and he looks to be just that little bit closer,

2:59:36 > 2:59:41as they come down towards the Bosch curve for the penultimate time.

2:59:41 > 2:59:42He's got a lap and a half to go.

2:59:44 > 2:59:50Yes, and I am quite sure but when Keke Rosberg catches De Angelis -

2:59:50 > 2:59:53not "if", he's going to catch him - but when he catches him,

2:59:53 > 2:59:55Elio de Angelis is without doubt

2:59:55 > 2:59:58going to have the widest car on the circuit.

2:59:58 > 3:00:01He will be going into the corners as wide as possible,

3:00:01 > 3:00:06he will be keeping Rosberg back as much as he possibly can.

3:00:06 > 3:00:08And even somebody as determined as Keke Rosberg -

3:00:08 > 3:00:11and he's probably the most determined driver on the track -

3:00:11 > 3:00:15is going to have all his time cut out to get past Elio de Angelis.

3:00:15 > 3:00:18But they're coming up to back markers.

3:00:18 > 3:00:21They're coming through now, to complete lap 52

3:00:21 > 3:00:25and into the last lap in this race

3:00:25 > 3:00:28and the gap, as they do that, is 1.64 seconds.

3:00:28 > 3:00:30Yes, well, I don't think...

3:00:30 > 3:00:33If De Angelis keeps cool, he's not going to have to get wide,

3:00:33 > 3:00:36because he's got enough lead to keep the gap going,

3:00:36 > 3:00:39but Rosberg is really charging,

3:00:39 > 3:00:43but De Angelis has got just enough air to keep that gap

3:00:43 > 3:00:47for rest of the lap. What an exciting finish to the Grand Prix!

3:00:47 > 3:00:50Rosberg is imperceptibly closing. Any minute now...

3:00:50 > 3:00:54Oh, Rosberg coming in fast into the corner, he's giving it everything.

3:00:54 > 3:00:56And now, Rosberg is close enough,

3:00:56 > 3:00:59he's beginning to feel the effect of the tow from De Angelis' car.

3:00:59 > 3:01:02He is close enough and now, Rosberg is in position,

3:01:02 > 3:01:04just about to have a go.

3:01:04 > 3:01:06He is going to be able to catch him before the end of the lap.

3:01:06 > 3:01:09Fantastic finish.

3:01:09 > 3:01:12Well, let's see. Rosberg right with De Angelis now.

3:01:12 > 3:01:14One of these two is going to win the Austrian Grand Prix.

3:01:14 > 3:01:17They go into the Bosch curve for the last time.

3:01:17 > 3:01:19I can tell you that the whole Lotus team

3:01:19 > 3:01:22and the whole Williams team are crowding the pit rails.

3:01:22 > 3:01:25It's going to be one of the closest Grand Prix finishes

3:01:25 > 3:01:30for a long, long time. Into the Texaco bend, 140mph.

3:01:30 > 3:01:33On the left, De Angelis leading. On the right, Rosberg, second.

3:01:33 > 3:01:36Rosberg's only chance is a do-or-die manoeuvre

3:01:36 > 3:01:39into the last corner and he's coming out quicker through there.

3:01:39 > 3:01:41He's getting the toe.

3:01:41 > 3:01:45Can he get inside? Now, De Angelis taking the inside line.

3:01:45 > 3:01:48Rosberg getting the toe. Rosberg should try the outside.

3:01:51 > 3:01:54Oh, it's fantastic stuff. De Angelis kept him well blocked,

3:01:54 > 3:01:57that's very excusable on the last lap, but Rosberg is coming at him.

3:01:57 > 3:02:02They're going to finish side-by-side and De Angelis has just held it.

3:02:02 > 3:02:05Up goes Elio de Angelis' hand

3:02:05 > 3:02:08and the young Roman has won his third Grand Prix,

3:02:08 > 3:02:14and he has put the hard-trying Lotus team back into position again.

3:02:15 > 3:02:16I can't help feeling

3:02:16 > 3:02:19that if Rosberg had been racing for the lead 25 laps ago

3:02:19 > 3:02:21and had felt then that he had a chance to win,

3:02:21 > 3:02:24he might have been with De Angelis a lot earlier.

3:02:24 > 3:02:27He really got the bit between his teeth, the last few laps.

3:02:27 > 3:02:31He drove a fantastic last six or seven laps and there they are,

3:02:31 > 3:02:33crossing the line - half a car's length -

3:02:33 > 3:02:35and it's the closest Grand Prix for quite a while

3:02:35 > 3:02:37and at last, we've had a good race.

3:02:37 > 3:02:39Whoa!

3:02:39 > 3:02:42You couldn't get a cigarette paper between the two of them there, could you?

3:02:42 > 3:02:44And that, of course, was his first win.

3:02:44 > 3:02:48Yes, and it was, very sadly, Colin Chapman's last win.

3:02:48 > 3:02:51Colin Chapman, the boss of Lotus, who made it what it was

3:02:51 > 3:02:55and we famously, as ever, saw him throw his cap up in the air.

3:02:55 > 3:02:58But sadly, we weren't to see it again.

3:02:58 > 3:03:02Right, let's move forward now to Spa, 1998 - into the '90s -

3:03:02 > 3:03:05and a race that definitely put a smile on Eddie Jordan's face,

3:03:05 > 3:03:09that's for sure. What didn't happen in that race?

3:03:09 > 3:03:12The weather was terrible, it was full of drama, wasn't it?

3:03:12 > 3:03:17It was a race that was all about what happened at the beginning,

3:03:17 > 3:03:19what happened at the end

3:03:19 > 3:03:22and what happened in the middle!

3:03:22 > 3:03:26Because, at the beginning, there was a colossal 12-car pileup.

3:03:26 > 3:03:29I've never seen anything like it and it involved David Coulthard.

3:03:29 > 3:03:32And when they got that sorted out,

3:03:32 > 3:03:35Michael Schumacher, in the Ferrari, was in the lead

3:03:35 > 3:03:38and he was catching David Coulthard, who'd had trouble

3:03:38 > 3:03:42and was about to be lapped and whatever.

3:03:42 > 3:03:45Schumacher drove into the back of David Coulthard.

3:03:45 > 3:03:48Schumacher thought David had deliberately blocked him,

3:03:48 > 3:03:50got out of the car, went storming down the pit lane.

3:03:50 > 3:03:53He was going to rip David's head off.

3:03:53 > 3:03:54Happily, that didn't happen.

3:03:54 > 3:03:59At the end of the race, we have the unique situation of not one,

3:03:59 > 3:04:02but two with Eddie Jordan's cars -

3:04:02 > 3:04:04our Eddie Jordan -

3:04:04 > 3:04:07leading at Spa, this wonderful circuit.

3:04:07 > 3:04:08Damon Hill in the lead,

3:04:08 > 3:04:11Ralf Schumacher, Michael's brother in second place.

3:04:11 > 3:04:14Ralf Schumacher urging the team to let him past Damon Hill.

3:04:14 > 3:04:19Damon Hill urging the team not to let him past

3:04:19 > 3:04:22and Damon won the race and as a result of that,

3:04:22 > 3:04:25he can say that he won from more than one constructor. Great.

3:04:25 > 3:04:27Let's have a look at this, then.

3:04:27 > 3:04:31Spa, 1998 - and look out for Eddie's boys at the front.

3:04:45 > 3:04:47On the front row of the grid,

3:04:47 > 3:04:50Mika Hakkinen starting in pole position

3:04:50 > 3:04:56for the ninth time in 13 races this year. Three to go.

3:04:56 > 3:04:59His teammate, David Coulthard, alongside him.

3:04:59 > 3:05:01Damon Hill, a magnificent third -

3:05:01 > 3:05:03the highest he's been for Jordan

3:05:03 > 3:05:05and just ahead of Michael Schumacher.

3:05:05 > 3:05:08The race which is crucial to the world championship.

3:05:08 > 3:05:11Hakkinen on the left, Coulthard on the right.

3:05:13 > 3:05:18Yes! Yes, it's go - and Coulthard drags.

3:05:18 > 3:05:20Hakkinen gets away well.

3:05:20 > 3:05:22Look at Eddie Irvine, coming up on the inside.

3:05:22 > 3:05:25Fielder goes up into second position.

3:05:25 > 3:05:29Schumacher is down into about sixth position. Bad start by the Ferrari.

3:05:29 > 3:05:33Great start by Eddie Irvine. Look at Fielder pound into the wall!

3:05:33 > 3:05:36- Who was that? - Coulthard, Coulthard into the wall.

3:05:36 > 3:05:37David Coulthard in the wall.

3:05:37 > 3:05:40- They'll have to red flag this. - Terrible!

3:05:40 > 3:05:42This is quite appalling!

3:05:42 > 3:05:44This is the worst start for a Grand Prix

3:05:44 > 3:05:48that I have ever seen in the whole of my life.

3:05:49 > 3:05:50Total carnage.

3:05:50 > 3:05:54David Coulthard went off up the hill very early on

3:05:54 > 3:05:58and then they just all piled into him in the poor visibility,

3:05:58 > 3:06:01and they had no ability to stop.

3:06:01 > 3:06:04The tyres are cold and everything locks up,

3:06:04 > 3:06:08and he just slides straight into the accident.

3:06:08 > 3:06:10Yeah, the race stopped, of course.

3:06:10 > 3:06:14Mika Salo you saw walk away and he had a gigantic crash yesterday.

3:06:14 > 3:06:18It's going to take an enormous time to clear all this lot up.

3:06:18 > 3:06:21I think it started with David Coulthard getting on the power

3:06:21 > 3:06:24and losing the backend, straight into the wall.

3:06:24 > 3:06:26Look at that. That's Coulthard's car.

3:06:26 > 3:06:29That was hit several times, Murray, after he hit the wall.

3:06:29 > 3:06:30Here we go again.

3:06:30 > 3:06:33It was at this point that David Coulthard puts the power -

3:06:33 > 3:06:35watch the McLaren in the background.

3:06:35 > 3:06:38There he goes, across the track, into the wall,

3:06:38 > 3:06:40across the path of Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

3:06:40 > 3:06:44Off go the wheels. Damon Hill goes through.

3:06:44 > 3:06:48There's Eddie Irvine's Ferrari being hit by Mika Salo's Arrows,

3:06:48 > 3:06:52which also hits David Coulthard's McLaren,

3:06:52 > 3:06:54which had already been virtually written off.

3:06:54 > 3:06:58I should think at least ten cars

3:06:58 > 3:07:02have been really badly affected by that crash.

3:07:04 > 3:07:0953 minutes after the Belgian Grand Prix should have started,

3:07:09 > 3:07:11your fingers crossed, everybody.

3:07:11 > 3:07:16We don't want another bad start like that one. 18 cars on the grid.

3:07:16 > 3:07:20There's Damon Hill. Three lights, for lights, five lights...

3:07:22 > 3:07:26Go, go, go, go! Hakkinen leads away again.

3:07:26 > 3:07:28Irvine again comes up the left.

3:07:28 > 3:07:32Damon Hill has made an excellent start and leads!

3:07:32 > 3:07:35Damon Hill gets ahead of everybody at La Source.

3:07:35 > 3:07:38- Schumacher going round the outside. - He's spun!

3:07:38 > 3:07:40Schumacher hits Hakkinen!

3:07:40 > 3:07:42And Herbert has his Hakkinen!

3:07:42 > 3:07:47Now, I can't believe they're not going to have to stop the race again.

3:07:47 > 3:07:50They've got three minutes to get that out of the way,

3:07:50 > 3:07:53but there's no spare car for Hakkinen.

3:07:53 > 3:07:59If they do stop it, he'll have to take Coulthard's car back.

3:08:01 > 3:08:03But at the moment, no sign of the red flag,

3:08:03 > 3:08:06as Michael Schumacher comes up the inside of Eddie Irvine.

3:08:06 > 3:08:08And takes second place.

3:08:08 > 3:08:12So now, the battle is on between Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher.

3:08:12 > 3:08:16Mika Hakkinen walks away. That's the World Championship leader.

3:08:16 > 3:08:21He's not going... And out goes Coulthard! Coulthard is off!

3:08:21 > 3:08:23This is terrible for the McLaren team.

3:08:23 > 3:08:26David Coulthard has kept the engine running

3:08:26 > 3:08:28and Schumacher is up with Damon Hill.

3:08:28 > 3:08:31The Ferraris are second and third, and Damon leads a race

3:08:31 > 3:08:35for the first time since Hungary last year in the Arrows.

3:08:35 > 3:08:37What's absolutely clear to me

3:08:37 > 3:08:39is that the Bridgestone intermediates

3:08:39 > 3:08:41are not working at all well but, at the moment,

3:08:41 > 3:08:44both Hill and Schumacher's car appearing to work well.

3:08:44 > 3:08:46Michael looking the faster.

3:08:46 > 3:08:49And remember, the way these two are old rivals.

3:08:49 > 3:08:51And the safety car is on the track.

3:08:51 > 3:08:54They're going to have to line up behind the safety car.

3:08:54 > 3:08:57That is a good decision, in my opinion.

3:08:57 > 3:08:59And now, Coulthard is back on the track.

3:08:59 > 3:09:02David Coulthard has rejoined the race.

3:09:02 > 3:09:05Recovered from that gravel trap. You saw him reversing gently out.

3:09:05 > 3:09:07Safety car is good news for him. It's a bit like Austria.

3:09:07 > 3:09:09He's going to end up at the back of the field,

3:09:09 > 3:09:13but Hakkinen gets away very well, it appears. But Hill made a super start.

3:09:13 > 3:09:16Coulthard, a poor start and Hill goes down the outside,

3:09:16 > 3:09:19squeezes Hakkinen and breaks later.

3:09:19 > 3:09:21Hakkinen very cautious there.

3:09:21 > 3:09:23Now, Mika feels a bit under pressure -

3:09:23 > 3:09:25very close to that Ferrari -

3:09:25 > 3:09:27hits the throttle a little too hard, pirouettes,

3:09:27 > 3:09:31only to be clouted by Johnny Herbert.

3:09:31 > 3:09:35So, into the Bus Stop at the end of the lap.

3:09:35 > 3:09:38The race is on, the race is on. There's the safety car.

3:09:38 > 3:09:43Damon Hill leads on lap three of 44.

3:09:43 > 3:09:46Can Michael Schumacher, in the Ferrari,

3:09:46 > 3:09:50catch his old rival and get past him?

3:09:50 > 3:09:53Not if Damon Hill has got anything to do with it.

3:09:53 > 3:09:57And David Coulthard is the fastest man on the track in 15th place.

3:09:57 > 3:10:00Eddie Jordan - he'll be keeping his fingers crossed.

3:10:00 > 3:10:04He's never won in all the Grand Prix that Jordan have been in,

3:10:04 > 3:10:06since they started in 1991.

3:10:06 > 3:10:09Let's that's just think of the psychology here.

3:10:09 > 3:10:11Damon Hill desperately wants to win this race.

3:10:11 > 3:10:13He hasn't won a race since 1996.

3:10:13 > 3:10:16Unlucky in Arrows at Hungary last year.

3:10:16 > 3:10:20Michael Schumacher needs the World Championship points.

3:10:20 > 3:10:21I think Michael will be thinking,

3:10:21 > 3:10:24"I'm not going to take a wild move to get past this man.

3:10:24 > 3:10:28"I've got a long afternoon ahead of me. I'll take him as and when I can."

3:10:28 > 3:10:32But here's a good chance. Up the inside, into the Bus Stop.

3:10:32 > 3:10:35He has track position, squeezes Damon over a little bit.

3:10:35 > 3:10:39Michael Schumacher, a textbook overtaking opportunity

3:10:39 > 3:10:43as he came out of that sixth gear Blanchimont corner much, much better.

3:10:43 > 3:10:47And here's a replay. He has forced Damon Hill wide.

3:10:47 > 3:10:51Michael Schumacher is able to take the right line into the Bus Stop.

3:10:51 > 3:10:55Damon Hill has to defer or go off the track and damage his car.

3:10:55 > 3:11:00- And off goes Schumacher! - No, it's Irvine.- Apologies.

3:11:00 > 3:11:05Trying too hard and he's just missed by Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

3:11:05 > 3:11:10Off goes the nose wing of the Ferrari.

3:11:10 > 3:11:12And he'll be coming in for a new nose.

3:11:12 > 3:11:15He's taken the barge forward off as well.

3:11:15 > 3:11:17Into the pit lane comes David Coulthard.

3:11:17 > 3:11:21This is the race leader in Belgium, it is Michael Schumacher,

3:11:21 > 3:11:24coming through to complete his 12th lap.

3:11:24 > 3:11:27He was nine seconds ahead of Damon Hill.

3:11:27 > 3:11:29Yes, he'll be squeezing that throttle pedal

3:11:29 > 3:11:31like there's an egg underneath it

3:11:31 > 3:11:32he doesn't want it to break because,

3:11:32 > 3:11:35if he jumps on it too quickly, we've already seen

3:11:35 > 3:11:39several drivers just spin off in an apparent straight line.

3:11:39 > 3:11:42And you really do have to squeeze the power on.

3:11:42 > 3:11:45He's lapping 2.065 again on that lap.

3:11:45 > 3:11:48You can see him bouncing across the curbs on the Bus Stop

3:11:48 > 3:11:50and he looks totally under control, doesn't he?

3:11:50 > 3:11:52Here is Michael Schumacher, race leader,

3:11:52 > 3:11:55coming in for the first tyre change.

3:11:58 > 3:12:00James Allen is there.

3:12:00 > 3:12:02Very calm work by the Ferrari crew.

3:12:02 > 3:12:05Perilous waters ahead for many other people at 8.3 seconds.

3:12:05 > 3:12:08A bit of a slow takeoff. Meanwhile, Damon coming in, as well.

3:12:08 > 3:12:14Yes, Damon Hill into... It was 8.3 seconds for Michael Schumacher.

3:12:14 > 3:12:15Is Damon going to lose any time?

3:12:15 > 3:12:18They're trying, but there's a spanner caught in the front wing.

3:12:18 > 3:12:20It looks as if they were hoping to adjust -

3:12:20 > 3:12:23maybe they did adjust the front wing on Damon Hill's car.

3:12:23 > 3:12:25Whatever, the tool got stuck in the nut

3:12:25 > 3:12:27and I don't think they changed anything.

3:12:27 > 3:12:31Michael Schumacher, absolutely flying, now his car's on full wets.

3:12:31 > 3:12:33He's just not backing off at all.

3:12:33 > 3:12:35He is absolutely going for it.

3:12:35 > 3:12:40His out lap is three seconds faster in the first section

3:12:40 > 3:12:43than any of his competitors. Absolutely incredible.

3:12:43 > 3:12:45Michael has got so much confidence.

3:12:45 > 3:12:48Damon Hill driving a very sensible race.

3:12:48 > 3:12:50Difficult thing here for Eddie Jordan

3:12:50 > 3:12:54because Ralf is homing in on Damon at about a second a lap.

3:12:54 > 3:12:57The two Jordans running second and third.

3:12:57 > 3:12:59They really need to be having a word with those two and saying,

3:12:59 > 3:13:01"Don't push each other too hard.

3:13:01 > 3:13:03"We've got a great chance of a double podium here."

3:13:03 > 3:13:06Michael Schumacher diving through with Diniz

3:13:06 > 3:13:09and they're touching each other! My goodness, that was close!

3:13:09 > 3:13:12Schumacher backs off and keeps the distance between them.

3:13:12 > 3:13:15That could've taken Schumacher out of the race,

3:13:15 > 3:13:18- if they'd been six inches closer. - That's the mentality of the man,

3:13:18 > 3:13:20but I'm a little bit surprised. He's got a half-minute lead.

3:13:20 > 3:13:23That was a risk he did not need to take.

3:13:23 > 3:13:26You can see the Ferrari boss walking down the pit lane,

3:13:26 > 3:13:29talking to the McLaren team and that's why -

3:13:29 > 3:13:33because Michael Schumacher is trying to lap David Coulthard.

3:13:33 > 3:13:35Coulthard struggling around in his McLaren,

3:13:35 > 3:13:39not happy at all with these conditions, for whatever reason.

3:13:39 > 3:13:43And we've seen the Ferrari team boss walking down the pit lane.

3:13:43 > 3:13:45But let us not forget that David Coulthard,

3:13:45 > 3:13:48in these appalling conditions... Oh, God!

3:13:48 > 3:13:50Michael Schumacher hits David Coulthard

3:13:50 > 3:13:53and is out of the Belgian Grand Prix!

3:13:53 > 3:13:56Maybe he should have been a bit more circumspect

3:13:56 > 3:13:59about trying to pass him, but he is out.

3:13:59 > 3:14:03Mika Hakkinen, in the nicest possible way, will be delighted.

3:14:03 > 3:14:06The World Championship situation is now the same as it was

3:14:06 > 3:14:11when the Belgian Grand Prix started and Damon Hill is in the lead.

3:14:11 > 3:14:14Yes, I think they probably just radioed to David to say,

3:14:14 > 3:14:16let him through, he's behind you.

3:14:16 > 3:14:19David lifts off, Schumacher doesn't realise

3:14:19 > 3:14:21and runs into the back of him.

3:14:21 > 3:14:23The two Jordans are first and second.

3:14:23 > 3:14:25Ralf Schumacher just ten seconds...

3:14:25 > 3:14:27Look, David pulls over to one side,

3:14:27 > 3:14:31lifted off and Michael clearly couldn't see.

3:14:31 > 3:14:34Well, what an incredible development!

3:14:34 > 3:14:38Coulthard appears to lift... And look at the spray -

3:14:38 > 3:14:41no wonder Michael can't see anything.

3:14:41 > 3:14:43He absolutely can't see.

3:14:43 > 3:14:45He runs into the back of David Coulthard.

3:14:45 > 3:14:48Michael Schumacher drives out of the Belgian Grand Prix

3:14:48 > 3:14:51angrily throws his steering wheel out of the cockpit,

3:14:51 > 3:14:53with every good reason.

3:14:53 > 3:14:58You can understand his fury because he's now effectively

3:14:58 > 3:15:03lost the chance of taking the World Championship lead.

3:15:03 > 3:15:04Now, what is he up to?

3:15:04 > 3:15:07He's storming down the pit lane, presumably because...

3:15:07 > 3:15:11And look at him, look at him! He's saying, "I'm going to the stewards."

3:15:11 > 3:15:14James, James, can you enlighten us? He's going to Coulthard.

3:15:14 > 3:15:17He's going to have it out with David Coulthard.

3:15:17 > 3:15:19This is a bit like Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna

3:15:19 > 3:15:22at that Belgian Grand Prix. James, what's the news?

3:15:22 > 3:15:23Unbelievable altercation.

3:15:23 > 3:15:27Jean Todt has dragged his driver away. Michael absolutely furious.

3:15:27 > 3:15:29I just saw the car as I came in.

3:15:29 > 3:15:32Absolutely destroyed the front suspension. He's walking past me now.

3:15:32 > 3:15:34He's close to tears, guys, he really is.

3:15:34 > 3:15:37He cannot believe this race has gone away from him.

3:15:37 > 3:15:40This is a replay. Just look at the anger.

3:15:40 > 3:15:45Michael Schumacher is normally a very laid-back, calm chap, but his

3:15:45 > 3:15:51dander is well and truly up now as he storms into the McLaren garage.

3:15:51 > 3:15:54And David Coulthard denies any responsibility.

3:15:54 > 3:15:56And out goes Eddie Irvine!

3:15:56 > 3:15:58Two Ferraris out now,

3:15:58 > 3:16:01and the Ferrari mechanics can hardly believe their eyes.

3:16:01 > 3:16:04This is a fantastic Belgian Grand Prix.

3:16:04 > 3:16:06On lap 27 out of 44,

3:16:06 > 3:16:11Damon Hill leads Ralf Schumacher, both Jordans by 14 seconds.

3:16:11 > 3:16:14Alesi is third, nine seconds back. Frentzen is fourth.

3:16:14 > 3:16:16Damon's missed the chicane.

3:16:16 > 3:16:19Damon going across the grass at the Bus Stop. No harm done,

3:16:19 > 3:16:22but at the moment Ralf's a couple of seconds a lap faster.

3:16:22 > 3:16:24But you can see there, look, the inside wheel.

3:16:24 > 3:16:27And he had to go across the grass. If you go through the pit lane,

3:16:27 > 3:16:30you've got to go through very slowly, you lose a lot of time.

3:16:30 > 3:16:33I don't believe there'll be any damage done there.

3:16:33 > 3:16:35A bit of grass in the radiators,

3:16:35 > 3:16:37but engine temperature's not the problem.

3:16:37 > 3:16:40Yeah, funnily enough, Damon did actually get caught...

3:16:40 > 3:16:42And there's second-place man Ralf in

3:16:42 > 3:16:45for I assume what is a scheduled pit stop...

3:16:45 > 3:16:49- On a two-stop strategy. - Rather earlier than I expected him.

3:16:49 > 3:16:52I was running through the order. I got to Frentzen, who was fourth.

3:16:52 > 3:16:55Fisichella is fifth, and Pedro Diniz in the Arrows, a lap down,

3:16:55 > 3:16:58is in sixth place.

3:16:58 > 3:17:03- Oh, Fisichella!- I think that's coming out of the Bus Stop.

3:17:03 > 3:17:06He obviously lost it and hit the end of the barrier.

3:17:06 > 3:17:10That's a very nasty accident. That'll bring out the safety car.

3:17:10 > 3:17:13I'm sure they'll bring out the... There's poor visibility there.

3:17:13 > 3:17:15I think he's hit the end of the pit wall.

3:17:15 > 3:17:19This is the same thing that happened to Schumacher and Coulthard.

3:17:19 > 3:17:21Ooh, that is a nasty accident.

3:17:21 > 3:17:24And now remember, Wurz was like this in Monaco in a Benetton.

3:17:24 > 3:17:28Nothing he can do. No way. That's a horrible accident

3:17:28 > 3:17:32And, well, that just looks like a torpedo, doesn't it?

3:17:32 > 3:17:35Is the Belgian Grand Prix going to go the full distance?

3:17:35 > 3:17:37Here's Damon for his second stop.

3:17:37 > 3:17:39And Hill pitting under the safety car,

3:17:39 > 3:17:43so hopefully he can get back out again and keep track position.

3:17:43 > 3:17:45Overrunning his slot a bit there - that won't help his pit stop.

3:17:45 > 3:17:48It's very important that Damon gets track position,

3:17:48 > 3:17:50doesn't get stuck in traffic.

3:17:53 > 3:17:56Normally, you should pit the instant the safety car comes out

3:17:56 > 3:17:59and, of course, Ralf now may just have track position on him.

3:17:59 > 3:18:02We'll have to see how it all shakes out.

3:18:02 > 3:18:06Alesi, third-place man, also coming in for his.

3:18:06 > 3:18:09Good, Damon has managed to get out of the pits ahead of Ralf,

3:18:09 > 3:18:11keeps track position.

3:18:11 > 3:18:14After this lap, the safety car will go straight on at the Bus Stop

3:18:14 > 3:18:15and then Damon will probably try

3:18:15 > 3:18:20and control Ralf a bit, back him up, take a run at it and have himself

3:18:20 > 3:18:24a nice, clear space to brake when he wants to into La Source hairpin.

3:18:24 > 3:18:29The safety car is off, the race is on. Damon comes out of the Bus Stop,

3:18:29 > 3:18:33gives it all the throttle he can afford to.

3:18:33 > 3:18:36Now, what's Ralf Schumacher going to do?

3:18:36 > 3:18:40Down from La Source to Eau Rouge, a gigantic ball of spray,

3:18:40 > 3:18:43and Schumacher is certainly not deferring

3:18:43 > 3:18:45as they go out of La Source.

3:18:45 > 3:18:49And Damon runs wide. Schumacher tucks in behind him.

3:18:49 > 3:18:53Frentzen is right up behind Jean Alesi.

3:18:53 > 3:18:55Fifth and sixth are Diniz and Trulli.

3:18:55 > 3:18:58They've regained the positions they should have been in.

3:18:58 > 3:18:59Lap 34.

3:18:59 > 3:19:04A 44-lap race. The gap now is 2.3 seconds.

3:19:04 > 3:19:09And Alesi is easing up slowly on Ralf Schumacher.

3:19:09 > 3:19:11If Damon Hill can win this race,

3:19:11 > 3:19:13I bet he'll say it's one of his most satisfying.

3:19:13 > 3:19:16Of course, all of his other races were won in a Williams that

3:19:16 > 3:19:18was dominant and it was easy for people to say,

3:19:18 > 3:19:21"Would he win in anything else?"

3:19:21 > 3:19:25And he is going to answer them beautifully with this drive here

3:19:25 > 3:19:27on a treacherous afternoon.

3:19:27 > 3:19:31Damon Hill leads. There is Schumacher. Wait for it...

3:19:33 > 3:19:36And there would have been Jean Alesi,

3:19:36 > 3:19:40but now here he is, coming up the climb to Les Combes.

3:19:40 > 3:19:42It was a very slow lap from Damon, the one before.

3:19:42 > 3:19:45He's moving over whenever he gets chance to try to get onto

3:19:45 > 3:19:48the wetter part of the track, as is Ralf,

3:19:48 > 3:19:51suggesting that the tyres are getting plenty warm enough

3:19:51 > 3:19:54and the cars are squirming around a little bit.

3:19:54 > 3:19:56And Jean Alesi's been the quickest of the three of them

3:19:56 > 3:19:59on the last three laps.

3:19:59 > 3:20:02Damon's six tenths faster than Alesi on that lap.

3:20:02 > 3:20:04There's Coulthard in the background,

3:20:04 > 3:20:07pretty much out of play after that pit stop to replace the rear wing.

3:20:07 > 3:20:09But Alesi can't now respond.

3:20:09 > 3:20:12Now the track's getting a little bit damper with this extra rain.

3:20:12 > 3:20:15I think it's helping the Jordan slightly.

3:20:15 > 3:20:17And they're easing away from Jean Alesi.

3:20:17 > 3:20:20If, if, if - and I'm not saying he's going to, in case he doesn't! -

3:20:20 > 3:20:23Damon Hill wins this race, it would

3:20:23 > 3:20:26surely be the sweetest of all his victories because,

3:20:26 > 3:20:28when he was driving for Williams,

3:20:28 > 3:20:32he was certainly in a car which at minimum was as good as anything

3:20:32 > 3:20:34else and, in most cases, better.

3:20:34 > 3:20:39Get ready in Britain and Ireland, all round the world, to stand up

3:20:39 > 3:20:43and cheer as Damon Hill comes home within

3:20:43 > 3:20:45sight of victory at the Belgian Grand Prix.

3:20:45 > 3:20:51His 22nd victory. Into the Bus Stop. He is yards away from the finish,

3:20:51 > 3:20:54followed by his team-mate Ralf Schumacher.

3:20:54 > 3:21:00And Damon Hill wins in Belgium. Fantastic!

3:21:02 > 3:21:05Schumacher second, Alesi third.

3:21:05 > 3:21:10Well, what an unbelievable race.

3:21:10 > 3:21:14And Eddie Jordan at last, after all his efforts,

3:21:14 > 3:21:19after fighting his way up through Formula Ford, Formula Three

3:21:19 > 3:21:24and even getting a Formula One drive himself, founding his own team,

3:21:24 > 3:21:29sees victory and is now very much one of the top five.

3:21:29 > 3:21:31Murray, what a day for the British team.

3:21:31 > 3:21:34Suzi, let's not forget that Eddie Jordan is Irish.

3:21:34 > 3:21:35We can't ever forget that!

3:21:35 > 3:21:39But it was a wonderful day for the Irish because, at last,

3:21:39 > 3:21:44after, I think, eight years, wheeler dealer Jordan had got it right.

3:21:44 > 3:21:48He'd not only won his first race, but he'd won second place as well,

3:21:48 > 3:21:51and I've never seen anything so euphoric

3:21:51 > 3:21:53as Eddie Jordan on the podium.

3:21:53 > 3:21:57- It was amazing.- He's always euphoric on the podium, even if he hasn't won.

3:21:57 > 3:21:59- Win or lose. - But a particularly special day.

3:21:59 > 3:22:02And it must have been a fabulous race for you to commentate on.

3:22:02 > 3:22:03I bet you were going mad.

3:22:03 > 3:22:08Yes. I mean, Damon Hill's a great personal friend of mine.

3:22:08 > 3:22:11I've had the privilege of talking about him ever since he started

3:22:11 > 3:22:15racing in any kind of motorsport, particularly on motorbikes.

3:22:15 > 3:22:18And I'd seen him win the world championship in the Williams

3:22:18 > 3:22:21and now I see him winning in a different team.

3:22:21 > 3:22:25It was very emotional indeed. I can't remember what I said,

3:22:25 > 3:22:29but I think I would have said something full of tears.

3:22:29 > 3:22:32Let's stay at Spa now, that great circuit, but move on two years,

3:22:32 > 3:22:38to 2000, and this race was really all about a dynamic duo, wasn't it?

3:22:38 > 3:22:42About one thing, and it was for the World Championship,

3:22:42 > 3:22:45and it was the great Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari

3:22:45 > 3:22:50and the only man that Michael Schumacher has admitted that he

3:22:50 > 3:22:54feared in Formula One, and that was Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren.

3:22:54 > 3:23:00Now, you know that Spa involves Eau Rouge, that enormously fast corner,

3:23:00 > 3:23:03and then they go up the hill to Les Combes, the right-hander.

3:23:03 > 3:23:10And on lap 40, Mika Hakkinen tried to pass Michael Schumacher

3:23:10 > 3:23:11doing about 200mph

3:23:11 > 3:23:14as they approached the right-hander at the top.

3:23:14 > 3:23:17Michael Schumacher moved across and blocked him,

3:23:17 > 3:23:19which didn't exactly please Mika Hakkinen.

3:23:19 > 3:23:23And on the next lap, lap 41, exactly the same situation,

3:23:23 > 3:23:26except that this time Ricardo Zonta was there,

3:23:26 > 3:23:28in the BAR, in front of them.

3:23:28 > 3:23:33Michael Schumacher goes to the left, knowing there was no way, at 200mph,

3:23:33 > 3:23:36Mika Hakkinen could try anything to the right,

3:23:36 > 3:23:39but Mika Hakkinen not only tried but he succeeded.

3:23:39 > 3:23:42He passed Zonta and he passed Michael Schumacher,

3:23:42 > 3:23:46and he took the lead and he won the race, and it was terrific.

3:23:46 > 3:23:50And it looked incredible, didn't it, that Zonta sandwich? Spectacular.

3:23:50 > 3:23:53A mesmerising battle between Michael Schumacher

3:23:53 > 3:23:55and Mika Hakkinen coming up right now.

3:23:57 > 3:24:00MUSIC: Adventures Of A Lifetime by Coldplay

3:24:06 > 3:24:10This is going to be a great race from our point of view,

3:24:10 > 3:24:13because we're going to be starting behind the safety car.

3:24:13 > 3:24:16That is absolutely for sure, take it from me.

3:24:16 > 3:24:18It's been raining all this morning.

3:24:18 > 3:24:22You can see, looking down at this classic Ardennes circuit,

3:24:22 > 3:24:23that it's wet.

3:24:23 > 3:24:28It's wet. It's wet in most parts, it's damp in the drier parts.

3:24:28 > 3:24:29It looks good for Mika Hakkinen.

3:24:29 > 3:24:32To be honest, he's done well all the way through practising.

3:24:32 > 3:24:36He took qualifying position, he was fastest this morning.

3:24:36 > 3:24:39But he's got two young guns alongside him, Jarno Trulli,

3:24:39 > 3:24:43who's only been on the front row of the grid once in his life,

3:24:43 > 3:24:46in Monaco, and of course the fantastic Jenson Button,

3:24:46 > 3:24:50who is starting third on the grid, ahead of Michael Schumacher,

3:24:50 > 3:24:54Michael Schumacher, the rain master, who has won here five times

3:24:54 > 3:24:56in Belgium, one of them disallowed,

3:24:56 > 3:25:00but nevertheless, this is his circuit.

3:25:00 > 3:25:04- It's anybody's guess. What's yours? - I'm very surprised, in a way,

3:25:04 > 3:25:07they're starting behind the safety car.

3:25:07 > 3:25:10We've started races here at Spa with five times more

3:25:10 > 3:25:13water on the track than they've got there.

3:25:13 > 3:25:15I think this is an overcautious call this time.

3:25:15 > 3:25:18So, the safety car is coming in at the end of this lap.

3:25:18 > 3:25:21Effectively the clock has started for the race,

3:25:21 > 3:25:24and so they're counting this as the formation lap.

3:25:24 > 3:25:27As normal, this is part of the Grand Prix.

3:25:27 > 3:25:31Yeah, and they have to hold station until they've gone over the start

3:25:31 > 3:25:32and finish line.

3:25:32 > 3:25:36And that, of course, is before La Source.

3:25:36 > 3:25:39Is anybody going to get the jump on the man in front of him

3:25:39 > 3:25:40or the men in front of him?

3:25:40 > 3:25:44It calls for superlative timing in this situation,

3:25:44 > 3:25:46when the cars are already rolling on the track.

3:25:46 > 3:25:48And the green flags are waving.

3:25:48 > 3:25:53- This race is effectively under way now.- So, safety car...

3:25:53 > 3:25:56We're looking at them as they come through the chicane

3:25:56 > 3:26:00and the Belgian Grand Prix at racing speeds is on.

3:26:00 > 3:26:01Mika Hakkinen leads Jarno Trulli.

3:26:01 > 3:26:05Michael Schumacher has a look on the inside of Jenson Button as

3:26:05 > 3:26:08they go round La Source. No changes yet.

3:26:08 > 3:26:11David Coulthard's still there in fifth position.

3:26:11 > 3:26:16And Michael Schumacher closing up marginally on Jenson Button as

3:26:16 > 3:26:17they come into Eau Rouge.

3:26:17 > 3:26:21It looks flat. It's anything but. Over the crest.

3:26:21 > 3:26:23So, there is Button, Schumacher,

3:26:23 > 3:26:25and Schumacher is definitely closing on the Williams.

3:26:25 > 3:26:27Hakkinen comes through Stavelot,

3:26:27 > 3:26:29heading down now towards Blanchimont.

3:26:29 > 3:26:32Which is where the dry line is definitely emerging.

3:26:32 > 3:26:36The lighter part of the tarmac that you can see is the drier part,

3:26:36 > 3:26:40and you can see even now that there is spray coming up from the tyres.

3:26:40 > 3:26:43There's a lot of trees in that sector of the course -

3:26:43 > 3:26:46they release moisture and wetness onto the track

3:26:46 > 3:26:47for quite a long time.

3:26:47 > 3:26:52But Mika Hakkinen now is leading by 2.1 seconds at the end

3:26:52 > 3:26:54of the third lap.

3:26:54 > 3:26:58He's just made the fastest lap of the race, two minutes 5.4 seconds.

3:26:58 > 3:27:01And look at Button coming up the inside of Trulli!

3:27:01 > 3:27:05Jenson Button takes second place with a great outbraking manoeuvre.

3:27:05 > 3:27:06Can he find the traction?

3:27:06 > 3:27:08No! Trulli's taken it back again.

3:27:08 > 3:27:12Button having to run wide because of the speed he carried into La Source

3:27:12 > 3:27:13and lost that place.

3:27:13 > 3:27:17Hakkinen one and a half seconds faster than anybody else on the last

3:27:17 > 3:27:21lap and two seconds faster than most in the top seven of the field.

3:27:21 > 3:27:23So Hakkinen really hooked up.

3:27:23 > 3:27:26Now, Jenson can stay close through Blanchimont.

3:27:26 > 3:27:29He must have a great chance of going down the outside of Trulli.

3:27:29 > 3:27:31I'm sure he's going to and outbrake him.

3:27:31 > 3:27:35No, he's positioned his car wrong and he's let Michael through.

3:27:35 > 3:27:38Bad mistake there from Jenson. He went the wrong way completely.

3:27:38 > 3:27:42He needed to go around the long way round, around the outside, there.

3:27:42 > 3:27:44He really snookered himself on that move.

3:27:44 > 3:27:47Michael Schumacher, then, is attacking, up to third position.

3:27:47 > 3:27:49Jenson Button won't take that lying down. He has another look.

3:27:49 > 3:27:54David Coulthard is still there, behind him is Ralf Schumacher.

3:27:54 > 3:27:56And Button attacks again, hits Trulli,

3:27:56 > 3:27:58spins the car but keeps going.

3:27:58 > 3:28:00And Coulthard gets through!

3:28:00 > 3:28:03David Coulthard has taken advantage of that spin there

3:28:03 > 3:28:07and they go down to Eau Rouge together. This is fantastic.

3:28:07 > 3:28:12This is 180mph Grand Prix Formula One wheel-to-wheel racing.

3:28:12 > 3:28:14Yeah, Ralf is through.

3:28:14 > 3:28:17So two or three terrible corners there from Jenson.

3:28:17 > 3:28:19Finally showing his inexperience.

3:28:19 > 3:28:21Lap six now and here, coming towards us,

3:28:21 > 3:28:24is Michael Schumacher in second place

3:28:24 > 3:28:26Some cars coming in the pitlane, Murray,

3:28:26 > 3:28:28I think they're going to slicks already.

3:28:28 > 3:28:32I can see the Ferrari mechanics outside my window ready too,

3:28:32 > 3:28:35so some cars are ready to go to slicks this early.

3:28:35 > 3:28:37And look at Button.

3:28:37 > 3:28:40Button the background pushing his teammate Ralf Schumacher

3:28:40 > 3:28:42very hard indeed for fourth place.

3:28:42 > 3:28:45Ferrari with slicks in the pitlane, Murray.

3:28:45 > 3:28:47So I would guess they'll be bringing in Michael Schumacher.

3:28:47 > 3:28:50He's probably calling, "Yes, bring me in for some tyres."

3:28:50 > 3:28:54So often here at Spa, you get this drying situation.

3:28:54 > 3:28:56Coulthard still under pressure from the two Williams.

3:28:56 > 3:28:59And it's working because fastest first sector now is

3:28:59 > 3:29:02Jean Alesi down in 17th position in the Prost,

3:29:02 > 3:29:06and he's been in and taken on dry-weather tyres.

3:29:06 > 3:29:10This, as I expected, is going to transform the race.

3:29:10 > 3:29:12Schumacher in. So, James is in the pitlane.

3:29:12 > 3:29:15Martin, there's been a huge amount of debate about this.

3:29:15 > 3:29:17At first they were, then they weren't.

3:29:17 > 3:29:19It's an extraordinarily gamble.

3:29:19 > 3:29:22He's still a few seconds a lap off the pace you need to be on.

3:29:22 > 3:29:24But I think Michael is throwing the dice,

3:29:24 > 3:29:26trying to force McLaren into a decision.

3:29:26 > 3:29:27Over his shoulder, in comes his brother.

3:29:27 > 3:29:30He's obviously seen what Michael is doing and Ralf is in too.

3:29:30 > 3:29:35Jenson still on wets. Nice stop from Ferrari, but an incredible gamble.

3:29:35 > 3:29:39I think McLaren have made a mistake by staying out this extra lap.

3:29:39 > 3:29:41Well, there is Mika Hakkinen,

3:29:41 > 3:29:44well and truly in the lead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

3:29:44 > 3:29:49Over the dry tarmac, comparatively dry. Into the pitlane.

3:29:49 > 3:29:54So, Mika Hakkinen comes in now. Where is Michael Schumacher?

3:29:54 > 3:29:58Because Hakkinen had about a 17-second lead at least

3:29:58 > 3:30:01when he came in, but Michael Schumacher meantime

3:30:01 > 3:30:03is on the fastest lap of the race.

3:30:03 > 3:30:07He's gone through the first sector in just 55 seconds

3:30:07 > 3:30:08and that's really flying.

3:30:08 > 3:30:11But remember, Hakkinen had a 10.8-second lead

3:30:11 > 3:30:14before the pitstop started,

3:30:14 > 3:30:17so I imagine he should come out in front of Michael Schumacher

3:30:17 > 3:30:20but not by much. The lead will certainly be reduced.

3:30:22 > 3:30:25There is the gap between Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher,

3:30:25 > 3:30:29which is continuing to be marginally reduced lap by lap.

3:30:29 > 3:30:33It's down to 4.6 seconds. Michael Schumacher has gone fastest again.

3:30:33 > 3:30:37One minute 55.2.

3:30:37 > 3:30:40The fastest lap last year was one minute 54,

3:30:40 > 3:30:43as near as makes no difference to the newest tenth of a second.

3:30:43 > 3:30:46The circuit is still damp in parts, they're staying on the dry bits.

3:30:48 > 3:30:52- And out...- That's Hakkinen.- Mika Hakkinen running off the circuit.

3:30:52 > 3:30:54What has happened? Has it cost him the lead?

3:30:54 > 3:30:58- As the camera cut to the McLaren. - He spun in Stavelot.

3:30:58 > 3:31:00He spun on his way through Stavelot.

3:31:00 > 3:31:02He appears to be picking up speed.

3:31:02 > 3:31:05I think he's just swapped ends on the way into Stavelot.

3:31:05 > 3:31:08We'll see a replay. Or did he just pull off the track?

3:31:08 > 3:31:11Whatever, he was only leading by 4.6 seconds

3:31:11 > 3:31:13and we are going to get the answer now.

3:31:13 > 3:31:15Schuey is through, he's easily gone through.

3:31:15 > 3:31:19Michael Schumacher leads the Belgian Grand Prix.

3:31:19 > 3:31:22There he is and there, in the background, is Mika Hakkinen.

3:31:22 > 3:31:25This is a terrific development.

3:31:25 > 3:31:29Mika Hakkinen was four seconds ahead of Schumacher.

3:31:29 > 3:31:33Whatever happened to him, the spin has cost him dearly.

3:31:33 > 3:31:34It's cost him the lead.

3:31:34 > 3:31:39I hope we see a replay as...Heidfeld out of the race.

3:31:39 > 3:31:40I hope we see a replay.

3:31:40 > 3:31:43I suspect Hakkinen just caught a white line somewhere

3:31:43 > 3:31:45and the car swapped ends on him.

3:31:45 > 3:31:50- Now, he is the pursuer.- 30 laps to go. Where is the Mika Hakkinen?

3:31:50 > 3:31:55Look back. The gap was just about four, it's now 6.1 seconds.

3:31:55 > 3:32:00Michael Schumacher has lapped half a second faster.

3:32:00 > 3:32:02We're just seeing a replay here.

3:32:02 > 3:32:04This is Hakkinen having quite a small spin.

3:32:04 > 3:32:07I think they've been struggling to find it, the Belgian TV crew.

3:32:07 > 3:32:09They just caught the end of it.

3:32:09 > 3:32:12I think he almost certainly caught a white line on the way in

3:32:12 > 3:32:14and it was half a spin effectively.

3:32:14 > 3:32:18Michael Schumacher continues now, exits the lap.

3:32:18 > 3:32:21This is the end of his 18th lap.

3:32:21 > 3:32:25A gap of 8.8 seconds over Mika Hakkinen.

3:32:25 > 3:32:29It's sure to have been increased as a result of that fastest lap

3:32:29 > 3:32:33he has just had. In fact, it's increased by over a full second.

3:32:33 > 3:32:35It's nearly ten seconds now.

3:32:35 > 3:32:39Hakkinen has picked his pace up, but Michael on a 54.2.

3:32:39 > 3:32:42Let's see if he feels the need again down the straight this time

3:32:42 > 3:32:44to wander over to the right-hand side.

3:32:44 > 3:32:47Yes, he does. And that's paying off.

3:32:47 > 3:32:50That gained Michael Schumacher four or five seconds on his lead.

3:32:50 > 3:32:53He's so smart. He's thinking all the time.

3:32:53 > 3:32:56He needs less of his capacity to drive the car,

3:32:56 > 3:32:59leaves plenty spare to think what's going on around him

3:32:59 > 3:33:02and how he can maximise everything that's available to him.

3:33:02 > 3:33:06Hakkinen has already had five second places this year,

3:33:06 > 3:33:10but he needs victory here, just as Michael Schumacher does,

3:33:10 > 3:33:12to do something about the World Championship

3:33:12 > 3:33:15for one or other of them.

3:33:15 > 3:33:18Schumacher in. James.

3:33:18 > 3:33:21Earlier than we expected. We've been doing some research.

3:33:21 > 3:33:25A fuel nozzle, when he came in first time, was only on for two seconds.

3:33:25 > 3:33:28There was only 24 kilos of fuel, so in comes Michael Schumacher.

3:33:28 > 3:33:32The target here is to get back out again ahead of Jenson Button.

3:33:32 > 3:33:34That's what Ferrari are trying to do.

3:33:34 > 3:33:38The seconds are ticking and 11.1 of them go

3:33:38 > 3:33:41as Michael Schumacher exits the pitlane.

3:33:41 > 3:33:47He was leading Mika Hakkinen by just over five seconds when he came in.

3:33:47 > 3:33:50Now, where is Jenson Button? There is Ralf Schumacher.

3:33:50 > 3:33:55So it looks as though the Ferrari objective has been achieved.

3:33:55 > 3:34:00- Hakkinen coming in for his second stop.- Following the Arrows in.

3:34:00 > 3:34:04The gap was 14.6 seconds.

3:34:04 > 3:34:06Michael Schumacher is sure to be taking the lead

3:34:06 > 3:34:10unless he encounters a problem. That's a very good stop.

3:34:10 > 3:34:158.8 seconds for Mika Hakkinen. I'm looking for the flag.

3:34:15 > 3:34:19There's the car going past. I just saw the top of it over the pit wall.

3:34:19 > 3:34:21Where is the Ferrari?

3:34:21 > 3:34:24- Now he's leading.- That's one of the Arrows that's gone through,

3:34:24 > 3:34:26so where is Michael Schumacher?

3:34:28 > 3:34:31There is Mika Hakkinen coming down to Eau Rouge.

3:34:31 > 3:34:35I saw the top of Schumacher's car.

3:34:35 > 3:34:37- There he is.- Yes, going underneath the wall.

3:34:37 > 3:34:40It was difficult to pick up how far he'd got

3:34:40 > 3:34:43before Hakkinen came out of the pitlane.

3:34:43 > 3:34:45And, as we thought, Michael Schumacher,

3:34:45 > 3:34:49who was 14.6 seconds behind before Hakkinen's stop,

3:34:49 > 3:34:52it takes longer than 14.6 seconds because of the long pitlane

3:34:52 > 3:34:56and the slow speed limit, and now Schumacher picks up the lead

3:34:56 > 3:34:59once again and we think he is fuelled to the end.

3:34:59 > 3:35:03No doubt at all about the fact that, on the two-thirds distance lap,

3:35:03 > 3:35:07lap 30 out of 44, Michael Schumacher's Ferrari,

3:35:07 > 3:35:09which you are looking at now,

3:35:09 > 3:35:13is leading Hakkinen's McLaren by some five seconds.

3:35:13 > 3:35:18There's Michael over on what little bit of damp track is left now.

3:35:18 > 3:35:20Significantly, on the last lap,

3:35:20 > 3:35:22Hakkinen took eight 10ths of a second

3:35:22 > 3:35:24out of Michael Schumacher's lead.

3:35:24 > 3:35:29Now you are watching what is going to be a classic confrontation

3:35:29 > 3:35:33between the two top men with about 12 laps still to go.

3:35:33 > 3:35:36That's about 46/50 miles still to go

3:35:36 > 3:35:40and Mika Hakkinen is eating into Michael Schumacher's lead.

3:35:40 > 3:35:43I've said this many times before, I'll say it again,

3:35:43 > 3:35:46catching is one thing, passing is another.

3:35:46 > 3:35:47But my goodness,

3:35:47 > 3:35:50catching is certainly what Mika Hakkinen is doing.

3:35:50 > 3:35:55On the previous lap, the gap, lap 31, was 3.1 seconds.

3:35:55 > 3:35:57Over the line goes Michael Schumacher.

3:35:57 > 3:35:59Over the line goes Mika Hakkinen.

3:35:59 > 3:36:03Down comes the gap by half a second to 2.4 seconds.

3:36:04 > 3:36:06Barrichello with some kind of problem,

3:36:06 > 3:36:08coasting now into the pitlane.

3:36:08 > 3:36:13He may be able to freewheel all the way down to his pit.

3:36:13 > 3:36:16Bad news for Ferrari, good news for Williams and BMW

3:36:16 > 3:36:21and Jenson Button because definitely up into fourth place goes Button.

3:36:21 > 3:36:23To fifth goes David Coulthard,

3:36:23 > 3:36:27to sixth goes Heinz-Harald Frentzen, hopefully to get a point for Jordan.

3:36:27 > 3:36:30And Rubens Barrichello draws to a standstill,

3:36:30 > 3:36:34very definitely out of the race, his third retirement of the year.

3:36:37 > 3:36:41And sadly, Jean Alesi is out of the race in the Prost.

3:36:41 > 3:36:43He was fourth at one time,

3:36:43 > 3:36:47his teammate Nick Heidfeld has already retired long ago -

3:36:47 > 3:36:50one of the earliest retirements.

3:36:50 > 3:36:53And yet again, poor Jean is out of the race again.

3:36:53 > 3:36:56Yet again no points for Prost. Lap 34.

3:36:57 > 3:37:00Seven laps to go and look at this.

3:37:00 > 3:37:03Mika Hakkinen is maintaining the pressure.

3:37:03 > 3:37:05He has caught Michael Schumacher.

3:37:05 > 3:37:09And just down the road, Coulthard had a go at getting past Button.

3:37:09 > 3:37:12There's two 10ths in it. Coulthard trying down the outside.

3:37:12 > 3:37:14His car has been much stronger under braking

3:37:14 > 3:37:16and Coulthard takes that position,

3:37:16 > 3:37:19so up into fourth for Coulthard.

3:37:19 > 3:37:20Button down to fifth.

3:37:20 > 3:37:24We've been watching the scrap through the last five, six laps,

3:37:24 > 3:37:27and David Coulthard had a much better car under braking.

3:37:27 > 3:37:29I think Button's rear tyres are going away too.

3:37:29 > 3:37:31Struggling to get the power down.

3:37:31 > 3:37:34But the two leaders now just about slugging it out

3:37:34 > 3:37:37and keeping that gap to one second.

3:37:40 > 3:37:42They are coming up to the Minardi.

3:37:42 > 3:37:46If the Minardi gets in the way, it could affect the lead.

3:37:46 > 3:37:50And the Minardi is that of Marc Gene, who is down in 14th place

3:37:50 > 3:37:53and has already been lapped once.

3:37:53 > 3:37:56Down to La Source, the slowest corner on the circuit,

3:37:56 > 3:38:00about 35 miles an hour. So, the Minardi has been lapped.

3:38:00 > 3:38:02The Ferrari is bearing down on them.

3:38:02 > 3:38:07In front of the Minardi of Marc Gene is Alexander Wurz's Benetton

3:38:07 > 3:38:10down in 13th position.

3:38:10 > 3:38:15Over Raidillon. Now, it's here that Mika Hakkinen can close up.

3:38:15 > 3:38:18- I don't think he's close enough... - He is close enough, Murray.

3:38:18 > 3:38:19He's got the slipstream.

3:38:19 > 3:38:21We know he's got ten kilometres an hour extra.

3:38:21 > 3:38:25But Michael Schumacher very firmly closing the door,

3:38:25 > 3:38:27leaving Hakkinen nowhere to go at all.

3:38:27 > 3:38:31Hakkinen had the speed, he didn't have anywhere to use it.

3:38:31 > 3:38:36Lap 40. We've got laps 41, 42, 43 and 44 to go at the end of this one.

3:38:36 > 3:38:39And I have to say, it's looking as though

3:38:39 > 3:38:42Mika Hakkinen can take that lead

3:38:42 > 3:38:45and increase his lead in the championship.

3:38:45 > 3:38:49Michael there, pretty firm, I think it was legitimate.

3:38:49 > 3:38:52Michael starts to move to the middle of the road.

3:38:52 > 3:38:53He knows Mika has a run on him,

3:38:53 > 3:38:56he knows he's got better straight line speed.

3:38:56 > 3:38:58And Hakkinen with nowhere to go

3:38:58 > 3:39:00and Michael moving back across the track.

3:39:00 > 3:39:03Theoretically you're not supposed to do that,

3:39:03 > 3:39:06but he was moving back to take the line through the corner.

3:39:06 > 3:39:09A close call, but a legitimate move there from Michael Schumacher.

3:39:09 > 3:39:11I think we'll see it again

3:39:11 > 3:39:14because they are coming through to complete the lap now.

3:39:14 > 3:39:18That is 40 laps completed, just four laps left to go.

3:39:18 > 3:39:21Hakkinen's best chance is if Schumacher has to follow Zonta

3:39:21 > 3:39:23closely through Eau Rouge.

3:39:23 > 3:39:26I don't think that will happen this time around.

3:39:26 > 3:39:30I think they will pass Zonta on another part of the racetrack

3:39:30 > 3:39:32because that's what gives Hakkinen his best shot.

3:39:32 > 3:39:33Schumacher in dirty air

3:39:33 > 3:39:36and then Hakkinen with the extra straight-line speed.

3:39:36 > 3:39:39Once again, Michael is having to defend.

3:39:39 > 3:39:42The back-marker is in the way. Can he do it?

3:39:42 > 3:39:46Yes, he's done it. A brilliant move, either side of Zonta,

3:39:46 > 3:39:50and Hakkinen brilliantly takes the lead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

3:39:50 > 3:39:53And you can see the delight in the McLaren garage

3:39:53 > 3:39:57because that could well have decided the race.

3:39:57 > 3:40:02A superb, gritty, determined, forceful move from Mika Hakkinen

3:40:02 > 3:40:05takes the lead in the McLaren Mercedes

3:40:05 > 3:40:09and he is on lap 41, three laps to go at the end of this one.

3:40:09 > 3:40:12And he's obviously got superior performance.

3:40:12 > 3:40:14I would expect him now to pull away,

3:40:14 > 3:40:17particularly on that approach up to Les Combes

3:40:17 > 3:40:19out of Eau Rouge.

3:40:19 > 3:40:22So, Zonta really did come into play there.

3:40:22 > 3:40:24Michael tried to defend the line,

3:40:24 > 3:40:27then chose to go the long way around Zonta.

3:40:27 > 3:40:29And Hakkinen just kept going.

3:40:29 > 3:40:33Here we see from the front view, Michael defending the track,

3:40:33 > 3:40:35making his Ferrari as wide as he can.

3:40:35 > 3:40:37He then went round the outside of Zonta

3:40:37 > 3:40:39and Hakkinen said, "Thank you very much.

3:40:39 > 3:40:42"I'll have a piece of that side of the racetrack then this time around",

3:40:42 > 3:40:45and really took Michael by surprise.

3:40:45 > 3:40:48And can you imagine how much surprise Zonta had?

3:40:48 > 3:40:54Remember, they were doing it at an approach speed of some 205mph.

3:40:54 > 3:40:56These men are supermen

3:40:56 > 3:41:00and you are getting the living proof of it before your very eyes now.

3:41:00 > 3:41:02Michael is pushing right to the end,

3:41:02 > 3:41:05faster in the first sector than Mika Hakkinen,

3:41:05 > 3:41:09faster in the second sector by half a second than Mika Hakkinen.

3:41:09 > 3:41:13But the Finn has got it in the bag unless something dreadful happens

3:41:13 > 3:41:16in the closing few hundred yards of the race,

3:41:16 > 3:41:20as Schumacher comes right up to the rear wing almost

3:41:20 > 3:41:22of the McLaren Mercedes.

3:41:22 > 3:41:24Mika Hakkinen exits the Bus Stop

3:41:24 > 3:41:29and, for the first time in his career, wins the Belgian Grand Prix

3:41:29 > 3:41:34by 1.1 seconds from Michael Schumacher.

3:41:34 > 3:41:40But it might just as well been 1.1 hours from Michael Schumacher.

3:41:40 > 3:41:44You never get sick of seeing things like that in Formula One, do you?

3:41:44 > 3:41:48Suzi, it's terribly difficult to communicate to people

3:41:48 > 3:41:52just how courageous and determined Grand Prix drivers are.

3:41:52 > 3:41:56Not many of us in life have done 100mph.

3:41:56 > 3:41:59Very few of us have done 200mph.

3:41:59 > 3:42:03I don't think any of us have done 200mph trying to pass not one,

3:42:03 > 3:42:08but two people in time to brake for about a 40mph corner.

3:42:08 > 3:42:11It was one of the great moments of Formula One.

3:42:11 > 3:42:14It certainly was iconic. Murray, thank you very much for today.

3:42:14 > 3:42:15And thank you for your company

3:42:15 > 3:42:18and being part of our Formula One time machine.

3:42:18 > 3:42:19We'll see you very soon.