AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2000

This Sunday, the 12th of March, sees the beginning of the new Formula 1 season with the 2000 Quantas Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne. This is the fifth time Melbourne is hosting a grand prix and Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief executive John Harnden described it as "a terrific start to the first Grand Prix of the new millennium". With a length of 5.303 km this is a circuit of long sweeping curves, fast corners and tight hairpin bends which offers few overtaking possiblities, so an intriguing opening race is expected.

There are a wealth of fascinating aspects to this season: the renewed rivalry betweem Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher, the new Arrows car, the youthful enthusiasm of Jensen Button at Williams, the partnerships of David Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen, and the Jaguar team of Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert, each hoping to excel for the team but individually coveting the title personally. After last seasons absence Schumacher is sure to be really fired up this time and with new Ferrari stablemate Rubens Barrichello, will need Ferrari to produce a really quick contender to match the McLarens.

Hakkinen will be poised to claim his place in the history books by claiming a hat-trick of titles, only the second driver in history. As for Coulthard he will need to inject some consistency and this will mean matching Hakkinen more often.

The Jordan team could provide some of the drama in this 2000 season with Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Jarno Trulli driving McLaren and Ferrari hard with the intention of improving on last years third place in the constructors championship.

The British racing green of Jaguar was unveiled early and will be raring to go with last years runner-up Eddie Irvine and Johnny Herbert carrying home hopes but you get the feeling that the name will carry the romance and wins may be infrequent.

Cian Hanley's view