Damon Hill becomes first son of a world champion to win title, but is dropped by Williams for '97 - as exclusively predicted by AUTOSPORT • Jacques Villeneuve qualifies on pole for his GP debut at Melbourne, and goes on to challenge for title • Michael Schumacher scores his first win for Ferrari in Spain • McLaren ditches iconic Marlboro colour scheme • Tommi Makinen wins his first WRC crown for Mitsubishi • Porsche wins Le Mans after a nine-year drought. Davy Jones, Manuel Reuter and Alex Wurz drive the winning car • US single-seater racing scene hits crisis as Tony George's Indy Racing League splits from CART and holds its first five races • Jimmy Vasser wins Ganassi's first Champ Car title as team-mate Alex Zanardi stars • Legendary journalist and AUTOSPORT contributor Denis Jenkinson dies • Opel driver Manuel Reuter wins ITC, but series proves too expensive for car makers and folds • Frank Biela and Audi dominate the BTCC taking both titles
- Damon Hill becomes the first son of a world champion to succeed his father
- Michael Schumacher scores his first Ferrari win in the rain at Barcelona
- Tommi Makinen wins his first World Rally title for Mitsubishi
- Frank Biela wins the British Touring Car Championship at the height of the Super Touring era
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