Sunday, March 10, 1996 8:33:13 am
ROTHMANS WILLIAMS RENAULT

The first Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne started where the last one in Adelaide left off with Damon Will winning for the Rothmans Williams Renault team. In fact, it was a dream start for the team as Jacques Villeneuve finished second after leading for all but a handful of laps. For Damon this was his 14th Grand Prix win, which now equals the number won by his father Graham. For Jacques, however, it was not a trouble free race as a low oil pressure problem in the second half meant that he was forced to slow down for the last final laps.

DAMON HILL: ÒI canÕt describe what it feels like. It is a long time since I was leading the World Championship and obviously I feel on top of the world. Everyone in the team deserves this result. It was terrific, I had a great race with Jacques and I am delighted to have come back to Australia and won. I have started the season where I finished the last one. I donÕt think there is going to be anything given away between the two of us this season. Jacques has show n he is a racer, we had a good race and I think the crowdÕs got something from that. I had a few tricky moments three or four times in the race, but everything went to plan and it was a thriller, I think.Ó

JACQUES VILLENEUVE:ÓI was very happy until five laps from the end. It is disappointing to lead most of the race and then have to slow down, but the whole race was fun, it was a great battle with Damon and today was a good demonstration of the Rothmans Williams Renault team and that we have a very strong package.When I heard the team screaming on the radio for two laps I understood there was something wrong, and then the red lights started coming on and I knew the oil was going down. It is annoying that you have to slow down that way to end up second, but second for a first race is great and I am very happy about that.Ó
 
BERNARD DUDOT, Technical Director: ÒFirst of all the entire Renault Sport team is very delighted by DamonÕs 14th victory, and the first one-two of the season for Williams-Renault. Thanks to what we saw today we are sure this will not be the teamÕs only one-two of the season. This race taught us two lessons - firstly the Williams-Renault cars are the best of the field for the moment, secondly it is confirmation of JacquesÕ talent. He showed he is very mature, because obviously he had a problem during the last 15 laps and as we asked him to reduce the speed he perfectly understood it was the only solution for the team to have a one-two.Ó                            /ENDS