Schumacher Gives Home Fans a Rare Victory Treat

Michael Schumacher's fans have over the years been loyal, loud and - when it comes to their home German Grand Prix - long-suffering.

For seven years, since the German joined Ferrari at the end of 1995, the red army has turned up in droves at Hockenheim to watch their hero - and always filed away disappointed. But, on Sunday, it was different.

The supporters who flocked to the south German circuit to celebrate Schumacher's record-equalling fifth World Championship found they had bought a winning ticket. Formula One's 'Red Baron', the most successful racing driver of all time with 62 wins, gave them a victory to remember with his first for the Italian team at Hockenheim.

Apart from three wins at the Nurburgring and one at Hockenheim for Benetton in 1995, Schumacher has been more a man of export quality. He has won six times in France, five times in Belgium, Canada and on the streets of Monaco.

The coachloads of red-shirted Germans appearing in Belgium, Spain, Austria and Hungary have long testified to his overseas pulling power while the titles have been won miles from home.

Emotional Outpouring

Sunday's win, coming a week after Schumacher matched Juan Manuel Fangio's five titles in France last weekend, allowed a full outpouring of emotion.

"You can imagine how much I was dreaming for this result," the German said after gulping a mouthful of champagne on the podium and acknowledging the raucous acclaim of his supporters.

"We have been so successful in the past three years but this particular race - here in Germany, in Hockenheim - wasn't supposed to be mine so far. Finally being able to win it means a lot to me and seeing the people, the crowd, after we won the Championship last weekend - it's really a dream come true."

In 2000 and 2001, both Championship-winning years, Schumacher failed to finish at Hockenheim.

Last season's retirement marked the last race in which he finished out of the points - while winning at the Nurburgring. In 1999 he was absent, recovering from a broken leg, as teammate Eddie Irvine led a Ferrari one-two.

The year before, Schumacher came fifth and in 1997 he finished second after a fourth in 1996. In nine previous attempts, he had never started a German Grand Prix on pole position before finally snapping that streak in Saturday's qualifying.

"It's without words, honestly, because we have achieved so much in this year that it's amazing," said Schumacher of his ninth win in 12 races - a feat that equalled the record he shares jointly with Briton Nigel Mansell.

"I only thank God that he gave me this opportunity."