There may not be many truly epic races around the Hungaroring, but the one we have lined up for this weekend will be remembered for time immemorial.
The reigning world champion Damon Hill had suffered an awful season following his move to Arrows Yamaha, having finished in the points only once so far this season – at his home race at Silverstone. He failed to start the Australian Grand Prix due to a stuck throttle, and suffered four retirements in a row between Argentina and Spain.
Despite missing all but five minutes of the opening practice session on Friday due to a gearbox sensor problem, Hill set the fifth fastest time – going on to take a shock third place on the grid for the race on Sunday. In contrast, Hill’s team mate Pedro Diniz was just 19th. Championship leaders Michael Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve led the field.
The five lights went out and Damon Hill made a blinding start to get up into second place, behind Schumacher, with Eddie Irvine forming a Ferrari sandwich by jumping into third.
Hill was clearly the fastest man on the circuit, closing up to Schumacher’s Ferrari every lap. He took his chance on the start of lap 11, pulling out of the slipstream to shoot into the lead down the inside line into turn 1. The Arrows pulled away at a rate of three seconds a lap, with Hakkinen’s McLaren being held up behind Michael Schumacher.
A hydraulics failure brought Hakkinen’s race to an early end on lap 12, promoting Villeneuve to a podium position.
By the time the lap counter ticked on to 44, Damon Hill was over 20 seconds ahead of now second place man Jacques Villeneuve, who had David Coulthard right behind him. Michael Schumacher had dropped to fifth place. He had Giancarlo Fisichella chasing him down in the Jordan. Making a mess of his overtaking move, Fisi spun on the dirty inside line and stalled in the gravel trap. Schumacher maintained fifth, whilst the Jordan was towed away.
Damon Hill led most of the race for Arrows
The Arrows reliability was iffy throughout the season, and on lap 57 Hill reported a throttle problem over the radio, forcing him to back off.
The hydraulic pump in the Arrows was causing the issue. On lap 74 – just three from the finish – the part failed altogether, meaning Hill was stuck in third gear with limited throttle control.
The enormous 30 second lead that Hill had led to a nail biting finish. Was it enough to fend off the charge of the closing Williams?
The final lap came, and we got our answer. No. With just three quarters of the lap to go, Villeneuve took to the grass to pass the slowed Hill and win the amazing race. The sportsman he is, the Brit congratulated his former team mate in parc ferme – but the pain of losing the race was there for all to see.
Only eight drivers finished on the lead lap. Herbert took the final podium spot for Sauber, heading the Schumacher brothers with pole man Michael in front of Ralf by 2 tenths of a second. Shinji Nakano took a rare point, finishing in sixth ahead of his team mate Jarno Trulli. The final runner to cross the line on the lead lap was Gerhard Berger.
In the championship, eventual victor Villeneuve closed the gap to leader Michael Schumacher to just three points, with a thirty one point advantage over third placed man Jean Alesi. Ferrari were now just two points in the lead of the Constructors’ race thanks to Williams’ race win, with Benetton a secure third ahead of McLaren and Prost.
Image courtesy of Race27, Wikimedia Commons
