Olivier Panis

The world is talking about Formula One again, and here is your chance to see why. 2002 was marked by one team's dominance, but 2003 was anybody's game. Drastically improved displays from McLaren, Williams and Renault made life extremely tough for Ferrari and Michael Schumacher. New regulations and a shift in the balance of power in the tire war ensured that predicting the winner of each race was never easy. Kimi Raikkonen calmly took the title to the wire in only his second season with a top team! Juan Pablo Montoya upped his game and came so close. Nothing could faze Fernando Alonso. He became the youngest F1 race winner in history! Go on board with him as he laps Michael Schumacher! Experience the fastest race in F1 history. Get to the heart of this season's roller coaster and follow Michael's struggle to win an unprecedented sixth world title.

1999 saw Formula One celebrate 50 years as the worlds top motor racing series. The season was a classic and worthy of the title, the most open in years, producing six winners and four title contenders. The Championship again went down to the wire to the final race in Japan where Hakkinen (Mclaren) and Irvine (Ferrari) fought a psychological and tactical battle dividing the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship between them. A most unpredictable season produced truly dramatic racing. Eddie Irvines' maiden win in Melbourne, Ferraris' first one/two in Monaco, unforgettable racing in Canada and France, Stewarts' first win at the Nurburgring, Michael Schumachers' stunning return in Malaysia and of course, the thrilling showdown in Japan were just some of the highlights.

Ferrari 221 points - 221 points for the rest of the field. Last year Michael Schumacher stamped his name in the history books; this year he shattered the records and raised the game in modern Formula One. A record-breaking 11 race wins, 144 points and never once finishing off the podium, Schumacher stormed his way to a fifth World Championship - a feat only matched by the great Juan Manuel Fangio. There was one record he had to concede. Juan Pablo Montoya is the fastest man in Formula One, smashing a 17 year record held by former Williams driver Keke Rosberg. Witness this mind-blowing event as the Colombian screeches through the 19,000rpm barrier in his Williams.

Right from the opening round of the 1996 FIA Formula One World Championship in Melbourne, the potential for an extraordinary season was plainly evident. In particular, two Williams-Renault team-mates were quick to display the sort of skill and determination that would keep this contest on the brink to the very end. The rest as they say, is history. As Williams-Renault celebrate their fouth Constructors' Championship, Damon Hill is justly rewarded as the first son of a Formula One World champion to emulate his father's achievement.

Excitement and ultimately triumph for F1's newest hero in a season that all came down to the last thirty minutes of dramatic action! Williams and Villeneuve were clear favourites as the Formula One circus lined up on the grid in Melbourne. But Villeneuve raced all season with the mighty challenge of Schumacher and Ferrari resting heavily on his shoulders. Villeneuve... Schumacher...Villeneuve...Schumacher. the battle of the driving genius versus Formula Ones new phemomenon continued all season long. Throughout the year there was plenty of excitement and interest elsewhere, McLaren Mercedes were always a threat, Bridgestone challenged Goodyears monopoly, Hill gave a champions' performance in the Arrows. Berger left Formula one on a high and Renault closed their last official Formula One chapter in style.

Top Gear France is a french TV show on cars, based on the english original tv show Top Gear. IT is shwon on TNT RMC Découverte and will be hosted by the french actor Philippe Lellouche, the professional racing driver Bruce Jouanny and EDM musician and journalist Yann Larret-Menezo.