Damon Hill finally brought the saga over his Formula One future to an end yesterday by pledging to see out the season.
Hill, buoyed by his fifth place in last weekend's British Grand Prix, has vowed to help team chief Eddie Jordan fulfil his aim of a top three finish in the constructors' championship.
The former world champion, who was widely expected to quit before the race at Silverstone after a disappointing season, instead will retire as originally scheduled in Japan on October 31st.
"I am looking forward to helping the Benson and Hedges Jordan team achieve their highest-ever Constructors' Championship position," said Hill, in a simple announcement from his Spanish villa.
The 38-year-old's fifth place in his final home race, only his second points score of the season, consolidated Jordan's current third place in the constructors' battle.
"We are all extremely pleased with Damon's decision," said chief executive Eddie Jordan, who is also on holiday aboard his yacht in Sardinia.
"His contribution to this massive team effort is invaluable and we are all eagerly anticipating the last eight races."
Hill has requested that his testing duties over the remaining weeks of the season be reduced. He was scheduled to test in Monza this week but took a holiday with his family instead.
Team-mate Heinz-Harald Frenzten, third in the drivers' standings in which he could challenge strongly given Michael Schumacher's lay-off through injury, and regular test driver Shinji Nakano will fill-in for Hill.
The decision brings to an end over two weeks of intrigue and backstage "shenanigans", as Hill once put it, that would have done justice to an episode of The Borgias.
Hill proved in front of his home crowd that he could be competitive by producing his best qualifying display of the season, sixth, and a commendable placing in the race.
The team must now hope that it will be the Hill of Silverstone, not the dispirited figure who left Magny-Cours admitting he might have raced for the final time, they see for the next few months.
