Weather forecast

Friday: 77 °F (25 °C), cloudy
Saturday: 69 °F (22 °C), showers
Sunday: 69 °F (22 °C), partly cloudy

Circuit information

Albert Park Circuit, Melbourne.
Circuit length: 5.302 km.
Race distance: 58 laps; 307.516 km.
Podium 1996: Damon Hill (GB), Jacques Villeneuve (Can), Eddie Irvine (Ire).

Timetable
advanced

Friday:
11:00 - 12:00 Free-Practice
13:00 - 14:00 Free-Practice
Saturday:
09:00 - 09:45 Free-Practice
10:15 - 11:00 Free-Practice
13:00 - 14:00 Qualifying
Sunday:
09:30 - 10:00 Warm-up
14:00 - 16:00 Race

Melbourne in March put on its finest face to greet the FIA Formula One World Championship, and Damon Hill took full advantage to score the first of eight victories that saw the Englishman end the season as World Champion for the first time.

Britain Martin Brundle survived an very impressive crash. He had no injuries and could even start again. Jacques Villeneuve started from pole-position to drive for victory. On his way he had to let pass team mate Damon Hill because of technical problems.

This year two brand new teams will enter Formula One in the Qantas Australian Grand Prix on March 9. MasterCard Lola, British famoused motorracing company and Stewart Grand Prix. Jackie Stewart will dress up his team with Brazilian Rubens Barrichello and Danish Jan Magnussen. The team is powered by the factory Ford engine.