BRDC Predident Damon Hill congratulates new champ Hamilton

Damon Hill: "It is so good to be celebrating a British World Champion"

Damon Hill, President of the British Racing Drivers' Club (BRDC) and the last British driver to win the Formula 1 World Championship, was joined by 1979 Formula 1 World Champion Jody Scheckter, 1981 British Grand Prix winner John Watson, BRDC Superstars Wayne Boyd and Joey Foster and more than 200 fans on Sunday to cheer on Lewis Hamilton at a private screening of the Brazilian Grand Prix in the BRDC Clubhouse at Silverstone, the home of British Motor Racing.

The British F1 sensation finished the Brazilian Grand Prix in fifth place, securing enough points to become the youngest ever Formula 1 World Champion.

Speaking at the end of the race Hill, the 1996 World Champion commented, "It was a fantastic atmosphere here at Silverstone and such an exciting race. It has put Britain right back there at the top. A British driver as World Champion, driving for a British team -- now we can look forward to an unbelievable British Grand Prix here at Silverstone in June. We are looking forward to welcoming Lewis back to Great Britain as a World Champion.

"Lewis is a tremendous talent, a great ambassador for British motor sport and possibly one of the greatest drivers we have had in this country. He has got a World Championship in the bank and I think he is going to be difficult to stop from now on.

"It was despair with two laps to go. We couldn't believe what we were watching because we thought 'how's it gone wrong at this late stage?' and then, on the last corner, Glock was overtaken and we were suddenly back in the frame again. Poor Felipe Massa and Ferrari were up and down, everyone here was up and down - it was just a tremendously exciting race.

"The rain at the end seemed to throw Glock incredibly. Lewis at one point had got it wrong but actually it turned out to be Timo that had made the mistake. My congratulations to Lewis, Lewis's family and to McLaren - it is so good to be celebrating a British world champion.

"Next year will be a whole new experience for Lewis as World Champion. Expectations will be higher than ever, but he will also receive unbelievable support from the fans -- nowhere more so than here at Silverstone for his home race. The 2009 British Grand Prix looks set to be the last at Silverstone for the foreseeable future, but he will get an unbelievable reception from the fans. It will be a fantastic occasion."

Tickets for the 2009 FORMULA 1 SANTANDER BRITISH GRAND PRIX, taking place at Silverstone on 19-21 June, are on sale 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

-credit: brdc