Hill may follow in father's footsteps

The ex-champion began the his last race as a driver admitting he may yet follow in his father's footsteps and return one day as a team owner.

As he reflected in Japan on the greatest moments of his career he talked about world titles, famous victories, out-of-body experiences and the lure of team management.

'It is a tantalising dream. You want to win and if you cannot win as a driver, winning as a team owner is the next logical option,' he said.

'There is certainly no definite plan right now to do that but I wouldn't write anything off.

'For now, all I want to do is stand back and get a perspective of life the universe, Formula One and Damon Hill.'

Sunday's Grand Prix will be his 115th and last, having started from pole 20 times, set 19 fastest laps on the way to winning 22 races and one world title in 1996.

But this weekend's grid is ample proof the transition to management is not that difficult with Jackie Stewart and Alain Prost running their own outfits.

Even in the Hill family itself it is not something new.

His father, Graham, ran his own team after winning two world titles but it was disbanded after he died tragically in a plane crash in November 1975

'Jackie has done a brilliant job in putting everything together from scratch and making a winning team but even he would admit he has been a little bit lucky,' he said.

He turns his back on life as a driver with no regrets.

'I am making absolutely the right decision. I am pretty satisfied with what I have achieved in my career. I have achieved a lot more than I expected to.

'My ambition at the start was just to get into Formula One.

'I have not had any strong emotions about this being my last race because I have been thinking about the race and doing as well as I can.'

Hill has had a lacklustre season and not done justice to a career high-lighted by one world title and an attitude that earned him a special place in the hearts of British fans.

He has been in points four times in 15 races and never reached the podium while his team-mate Heinz-Harald Frentzen has won two Grands Prix and may finish third in the championship.

'After the season I have had you would think I would be looking forward to retirement,' he joked. 'I am hoping this race is not going to be as painful as the others.

'Its been pretty barren and it would be nice to leave on a high.'

He was in reflective mood as he looked back on a career which has taken him to the top of the world.

'In 1996 I had the most exciting time of my life - winning the world championship and the British Grand Prix.

'But it has been the increasing pressure of testing and travelling and the different talents required to handle the new generation of cars with grooved tyres that has worn down the man who turned 39 at the last race in Malaysia.

'One more lap of testing at Barcelona I could do without,' he admitted with a smile.

'No-one forced me to retire. I have only done what I wanted to do. The only pressure has come from my own honesty in facing my situation.'

Although he is leaving of his own volition and without a backward glance he admits the real feelings may be some time in coming.

'The interesting period will be January-February next year when I should be going testing and I won't be. I'll be skiing instead.'

His final race comes on the Suzuka stage where he enjoyed the two greatest moments of his career, winning his 1996 title and beating Michael Schumacher to victory in the rain in 1994 to take the title chase to the last round in Japan.

'I drove out of my skin in the wet that day and I regard that as the race where I got the most out of myself.

'That race here was very special.

'I just let something else drive the car. I don't know what it was. I felt I wasn't even in the car. It was a strange experience I have not had before or since.

'It was very intense, peculiar. So I said okay, you drive and to win and come out triumphant was absolutely fantastic.'