Sport

Hill is ready to push to the limit

DAMON HILL has warned his team mate Jacques Villeneuve that he wants a clean fight for the world championship in the Portuguese…

By ALAN HENRY
Fri Sept 20 1996 - 01:00

DAMON HILL has warned his team mate Jacques Villeneuve that he wants a clean fight for the world championship in the Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril on Sunday, but that he is prepared to push right to the limit of acceptable driving tactics to in a bid to clinch the title.

"If I am in the lead, I will defend my position vigorously," said Hill.

"There is no question about it. My situation is quite simple; I have to finish ahead of Jacques to finish the whole thing off. But I can still win the championship if I'm behind him.

"I do not want to resort to unfair tactics. It's always a matter of opinion as to what is fair and what is not. I drive the way I feel fit at any given time, and I'm at liberty to drive in a way which may not be the way that people expect me to drive. I have everything at my disposal. I don't always have to give way."

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When it was suggested that he would not deliberately ram Villeneuve off the circuit, Hill replied with a twinkle. "Wouldn't I?" he replied. "What I am saying that I'm currently leading the championship and I am determined to win it. I am against unfair tactics; I have seen championships settled in the past in ways that I regard as unsatisfactory, and I don't want it to happen this time.

"I believe I can win this race cleanly. I believe I can start on pole, lead the race and not have to see another soul for the entire race. Whether that is what will happen we will have to see."

Hill leads Villeneuve by 13 points going into this penultimate race of the season. Second place behind the Canadian driver would leave Hill one point short of the championship, but Villeneuve would face the seemingly overwhelming task of winning next month's Japanese GP with Hill failing to score a single point.

Neither driver needs to be reminded that it was at Suzuka in 1990 where Ayrton Senna rammed Alain Prost off the road at the first corner, settling the championship in the Brazilian's favour. Hill wants the title tied up before setting off for Japan.

. Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of Germany's double world champion Michael, is expected to sign a two year contract with team Jordan Peugeot today. The team have called a news conference for this morning when Schumacher will be confirmed as one of their drivers for next season.