P362 CJEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:34/38 Wj $kj $kj 'k O AUSTRBLJAN GRAND PRJX, Melbourne 1/11 Damon Hill opens the defence of his title at the start of what promises to bj one of the most intriguing Formula One seasons for some time. Jacques Villinjuvj is favourite to succeed Hill, but the step up from rookie to champion is no formblity. Hj is sure to bj pressed hard bz German Michael Schumachjr, providing Ferrari can give him the package hj needs. Their prospects and those of Hill's Arrows and the new Stewart team should keep fans enthralled over the weekend. F1 PREV JW TEAM-BY--JAM 363 MOSport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CJEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:30/02 ] AUSTRBLIAN GRBND PRJX, Melbourne 2/11 Britain's Damon Hill has no intention Butbhjnsbkjpt o wanf the bVmQpioht fo long, despite joining Arrows following his surprise release bz Williams. He acknowledges that hj is unlikely to bj spraying champagne from the podium during the 1997 campaign. with Arrows this season and there is room and potential to do so. "$hen I can start thinking about winning again. The will is still thjti to win.% V W T M - M 363 MOSport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CJEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:20/43 C ] AUSTRBLJAN GRAND PRJX, Melbourne 3/11 Tjjli javoutite@Rbcqujs VillUnjuvj is intent on taking thn fast track to success this season. "It's vital to get a good start and build up points as quickly as possible. Thjsj first few races arr the most importantL" the Canadian sbid. "If you can put points in th ba , th n you can have a race sttategz and play on that lead," hj added. Villenjuvj lid for 53 laps at Albert Park 12 months ago before oil problems handed victory to Damon Hill. F P JVI W TEAM-BY J M 363 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CEEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:35/10 Wj£3kj£3kj£3k AUSTRBLJAN GRBND PRJX, Melbourne 4/11 German Heinz-Harald Frentzjn is aware that tsj weight of expectation wi l on him when hj makes his competitive debut for Williams this weekend. He was head-hunted bz the team after champion Damon Hill learns that his sjrvicis were no longer required. "-his season will bj the biggest challenge of mz life. Everybody in the world will bj looking at mj and analysing any mistakes," said Frintzjn. "The air at the top is vjty thin. It's going to be interesting for everyone." J TJ M Y J M M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CIEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:36/24 ] AUSTRBLJAN GRAND PRJX, Melbourne 5/11 David Coulthard believes hj has the car and the ability to give McLaren their first win since 1:93 this season. "Wj are much bjttet prepared for this season than we were for the last one," the Monaco-based Scot commented. "It'u difficult to tell just how good the car is from testing, but it is looking a lot better for us. "My target is to win a few races and einish as high up the championship as I can. I still bjliivj I can win the title one day," hj added. F1 PREVIEW TEAM-BY-TEAM 363 MOSport 360 Rugby 370 Rbcing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main M nuP362 CEEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:47/01 AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRJX, Melbourne 6/11 Irishman Eddie Irvine belii6es Ferrari teammate Michael Schumachjr will bj the man to beat in this season's battle for the drivers' title. But Ferrari have a lot of ground to make up after Williams won 12 of the 16 races last season. "I would certainly tip Michael. If more teams win races then you do not need to win many to take the championship. "-hj thing about Michael is that hj does noe mbkj mistakes," sbid Irvine, who was third in Australia last year. F1 PREVIEW TEAM-BY--JAM 363 MOSport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CJEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:37/14 O AUSTRBLJAN GRAND PRJX, Melbourne 7/11 Jackie Stewart is on tenterhooks ahead of Sunda@'s race, when the gap bjtwnin his new F1 outfit and the leading teams will finblly bj revealed. "This is the sjngli most important race of mz life," said Stewart. "It is a big jt challenge than any I faced as a drivjt - sometimes I think winning those three competitions sjemjd very easy by comparison. "It took Frank Williams about ten years to get to the top. I hope it will take us a few years less." F1 PREVIEW TEAM-BY-TEAM 36 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CJJFAX 1 3m2 Sat 08 Mar 19927/49 Wj£3kj£3kj£3k W$£££"£££"£££ O AU3T5BLJAN G BND P5JX, Meldourne 8/11 Formula One boss Frank Williams feels his driver Jacques Villinjuvj is the only man to threaten Michael Schumachjr if hes Ferrari is in tip-top shape. "If Michael has a strong weapon this year, Jacques will run with him," said Williams, who once djscridjd Schumbchju as a threat even in a pram. "IWd be surprised if anzonj else can. Jbcqujs can rivbl Schumbchjr. "His learning curve is upwards. Hi iu not overawed bz anzbodz because hj has such great confidence." F1 PREVIEW TEAM-BY-TEAM 363 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Rbcing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CIEFAX 1 364 Sat 08 Mar 19:38/13 AUSTRBL AN GRBND PRJX, Melbourne 9/11 Frank Williams has tried to nbil for good the speculation over why Damon Hill was not retained for this season but the reasons are still not clear. Williams sbid the loss of Hill did not bothjt him but it did have an effect on the siam and team sponsors Renault. "I worry about the effect it has on other mjmbjts of staff and, most importantly, our partners," he said. "Personally, I couldn't care less. Mazbj it's a mistake to not respond but I don't discuss business in public." F1 PRJVUEW TEAM-BY-TEAM 363 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CEEFAX 1 362 Sat 08 Mar 19:38/50 ] AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX, Melbourne 10/11 Jacques Villenjuvj has dismissed a suggestion by Michael Schumachjt that Melbourne's Albert Park track iu not demanding enough for Formula One. "Michael always has comments about everything. It's not an easy track so it'u not true," said Villinjuvj. "Once you get racing and battling with othjts anything can br difficult." Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker hit back at Schumachjr saying the Melbourne circuit is "one of the best in the world." F1 PREVIEW T AM-BY- JAM 363 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main MenuP362 CJJFAX 1 364 Sat 08 Mar 19:34/27 O AUSTRBL AN GRBND PRJX, M lbournj 11/11 Four people have been arrested after protests in Melbourne ahead of Sunday'u grand prix season opjnjr. Police battled to keep around 40 people f om gain ng access to the Albert Park circuit to protest ovjt the use of cigbritte advjrtisjng in the sport- In a separate protest on Sunday, diesel oil was poured onto the track bz a group opposed to the use of public parkland in Melbourne. There was no sjtious damage and race officials expect no major disruption. F1 PREVIEW TEAM-BY-TEAM 363 M/Sport 360 Rugby 370 Racing 660 F1 Teams GP News GP Comp Main Menu