Hakkinen Wins the British GP in Dominant Form

Mika Hakkinen ended his terrible run this year by claiming his first-ever British Grand Prix victory at the ninth attempt as he cruised home for a 19th career win at Silverstone. Hakkinen coasted home to be first at chequered flag for the first time since Spa last August and was never troubled once he passed Ferrari rival Michael Schumacher on the fifth lap as the German had to settle for runners-up spot.

Rubens Barrichello secured a podium spot in third, while Juan Pablo Montoya of Williams and Sauber duo Kimi Raikkonen and Nick Heidfeld claimed points-scoring spots in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. An eventful start saw Jordan's Jarno Trulli go off into the gravel after a collision with David Coulthard. The Scot remained in the race after a spin but dropped down to 18th from third on the grid.

But Coulthard's race didn't last long as he suffered right rear suspension failure and went off on the third lap at Priory. British American Racing driver Olivier Panis also went out of the race on the opening lap as he was left beached in the gravel after being nudged by teammate Jacques Villeneuve.

Unconcerned with the incidents behind him, pole-sitter Michael Schumacher powered off the grid ahead of McLaren rival Hakkinen to lead in the opening laps. But after a wide exit at Copse, Schumacher was passed by the Finn on lap five as two-time champion Hakkinen moved into an early lead.

Colombian Montoya moved up from eighth on the grid to third as he took full advantage of the early dramas while Brazilian Luciano Burti dropped oil on the track at Woodcote as his Ferrari engine gave up. He parked his Prost near the pit-wall on lap 7.

After passing Schumacher, Hakkinen pulled away into an 20-second lead on lap 16, while Montoya closed up to within a second of the second-placed German. Montoya passed a struggling Schumacher on lap 18 at the inside of Woodcote while Sauber's Raikkonen was the first man to make a scheduled pit-stop two laps later.

Leader Hakkinen came into the pits on lap 21, leaving Montoya out in front as the Finn came out just behind the Williams driver. Montoya pulled in for an 8.2-second stop on lap 25 to rejoin the race in fifth. Hakkinen maintained his pace at the front as he set a new lap record of one minute, 23.514 seconds on lap 27 and improved that by a further two-tenths of a second seven laps later.

Ralf Schumacher went off the racetrack with a technical problem and parked his Williams on the gravel at Priory on lap 39 as the reliability record of the Grove-based team was questioned once again. Michael Schumacher and Hakkinen both came in for pit-stops as Barrichello moved up to second in his Ferrari. The Brazilian came in

Minardi driver Fernando Alonso came into the pits on three wheels on lap 42 after losing his front left wheel shortly before the entry to the pit-lane. But once the scheduled pit-stops had been completed, it was a parade to the finish as Hakkinen, the elder Schumacher and Barrichello eased onto their respective spots on the podium.

Although off the winners rostrum, Schumacher consoled himself safe in the knowledge that he now holds a 37-point championship lead with a maximum 60 points available.

PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS The British Grand Prix Silverstone, England; 60 laps; 308.356km; Weather: Dry, partly cloudy. Classified: Pos Driver Team-Engine Time 1. Hakkinen McLaren Mercedes (B) 1h 25:33.770 2. M.Schumacher Ferrari (B) + 33.646 3. Barrichello Ferrari (B) + 59.280 4. Montoya Williams BMW (M) + 1:08.772 5. Raikkonen Sauber Petronas (B) + 1 Lap 6. Heidfeld Sauber Petronas (B) + 1 Lap 7. Frentzen Jordan Honda (B) + 1 Lap 8. Villeneuve BAR honda (B) + 1 Lap 9. Irvine Jaguar Cosworth (M) + 1 Lap 10. Verstappen Arrows Asiatech (B) + 2 Laps 11. Alesi Prost Acer (M) + 2 Laps 12. de la Rosa Jaguar Cosworth (M) + 2 Laps 13. Fisichella Benetton Renault (M) + 2 Laps 14. Bernoldi Arrows Asiatech (B) + 2 Laps 15. Button Benetton Renault (M) + 2 Laps 16. Alonso Minardi European (M) + 3 Laps Fastest Lap: Hakkinen, 1:23.405, lap 34 Not Classified/Retirements: Driver Team On Lap R.Schumacher Williams BMW (M) 37 Burti Prost Acer (M) 7 Coulthard Mclaren Mercedes (B) 3 Trulli Jordan Honda (B) 1 Panis Bar Honda (B) 1 World Championship Standing, Round 11: Drivers: Constructors: 1. M.Schumacher 84 1. Ferrari 118 2. Coulthard 47 2. McLaren 66 3. Barrichello 34 3. Williams 46 4. R.Schumacher 31 4. Sauber 19 5. Hakkinen 19 5. Jordan 15 6. Montoya 15 6. BAR 12 7. Heidfeld 10 7. Jaguar 5 8. Trulli 9 8. Prost 3 = Raikkonen 9 9. Benetton 1 10. Villeneuve 7 = Arrows 1 11. Frentzen 6 12. Panis 5 13. Irvine 4 14. Alesi 3 15. Fisichella 1 = Verstappen 1 = de la Rosa 1 All timing unofficial