SHOULD Michael Schumacher's current scintillating form continue, Damon Hill is almost certain to clinch the coveted 1996 World Championship title at tomorrow's Portuguese Grand Prix at Estoril.

Schumacher was fastest in yesterday's practice and aims to make it a hat trick of wins with victory tomorrow. With a 13 points lead and the first six finishers getting points on a 10-6-4-3-2-1 basis, Hill will bring the title back to Killiney on Sunday night provided he can keep Villeneuve off the podium.

If the French-Canadian finishes second, fourth is enough for Hill to put the title out of his reach, If Villeneuve is third, a lone point for sixth will be enough for Hill to wrap it up. Only a win by Villeneuve will guarantee that he keeps his title dream alive.

"My aim is to finish ahead of Jacques," said a relaxed Hill yesterday. "That's all I've got to do."

Hill set the tone by being quicker than his team mate in both of yesterday's practice sessions around the compact circuit: "I think we will go well here," said Hill. "I am working to get a good set up for the high speed corners especially, so tyre wear isn't a problem."

Villeneuve was fifth fastest, reflecting the bookies assessment of the situation, which has Hill 13 to 8 favourite and the challenger at 15 to 8 to win the race. Ladbrokes rate Hill as 30 to 1 on favourite to win the title.

While Schumacher was quickest in the second session, Eddie Irvine headed the time sheets at the end of the morning outing. "Yeah, it was OK," said the Ulsterman, "but really, today's times are meaningless, especially as nobody knows what the other teams are doing."

Irvine finished fourth in the afternoon, but was not happy. "The car is using the tyres too hard. It's not quiet right," he said afterwards, as he walked off to get some physio from his sister Sonia. The long, high speed corners of Estoril work the neck muscles more than any circuit on the calendar.

Eddie Jordan enjoyed being the talk of the paddock with the announcement of the signing of Ralf Schumacher, but the race team struggled. A dispirited Barrichello was marginally the quicker of the Jordan's in 11th place.

Today's practice session should be a titanic battle for supremacy at a track where there is only a single overtaking spot and where grid position is all important.

Jordan made the announcement of Ralf Schumacher's signing early yesterday. "I've watched Ralf for the last three or four years, said Jordan. "These days I don't see too many races outside F1, but one I always get to see is the Monaco F3 event. Ralf drove two fantastic races there against wicked competition and since then I've known he would be good.".

Ralf Schumacher said it was "a really big opportunity, an extraordinary stroke of luck and a big chance for a young driver"

Asked if he felt he was ready for Formula One, Schumacher said: "You never know if you're ready for F1, we'll see next year."

He said he was not worried about his performance being compared with his brother "because he has been in F1 for six years and is a double world champion".

Schumacher (21), signed a three year contract, which Jordan says is water tight. "The last Schumacher I brought into F1 didn't do too bad," said Jordan.

The world champion has paid for his brother to have the best equipment throughout his career and is delighted with the move. "I am really pleased Ralf is joining Eddie. The testing times in the McLaren were very good and his approach is very professional."