GERMAN driver Michael Schumacher steered his Benetton Ford to a dramatic victory in the first race of the 1994 Formula One season at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo yesterday.
Race favourite Ayrton Senna, driving before his home fans, spun his Williams Renault off the Interlagos circuit in the closing stages in a desperate bid to catch the German.
The first race conducted under new technical rules intended to inject excitement into the sport, also saw a heart-stopping crash from which four drivers escaped shaken but not seriously hurt.
After losing Senna, Schumacher's domination was so crushing that second placed Damon Hill, in a Williams-Renault, finished more than a lap and a half behind. French driver Jean Alesi was third in a Ferrari.
The 24-year-old German, who only won his first race in Portugal last year, may have signalled a new competitive era in Formula One because of the rule changes.
Starting second on the grid, he was overtaken by Alesi at the start as Senna charged into the lead. But after two duels, Schumacher went back into second place.