Damon Hill OBE – Keynote Speaker

The 1996 FIA Formula 1 World Drivers’ Champion Damon Hill is one of the sport’s most respected personalities, remembered by many fans for his titanic battles with Germany’s Michael Schumacher and for partnering the late Ayrton Senna at Williams in 1994.

The son of double Formula 1 World Champion Graham Hill, Damon began his racing career relatively late. Working as a dispatch rider to fund his racing, he began competing on motorcycles, winning every race in which he competed in 1984. Damon progressed from Formula Ford to Formula 3 and onwards to Formula 3000, but his journey to Formula 1 was not easy. Determined to gain interest from teams and sponsors, Damon sought opportunities in the Saab Championship, which he won, the British Touring Car Championship and Le Mans 24 Hours sport car race.

His dedication inspired Williams to hire him as test driver in 1991 before promoting him to reserve driver in 1992. It was in this same year that Damon made his F1 debut for Brabham at the British Grand Prix.

The following year, Damon signed with Williams for his first full F1 season in which he accomplished three wins, 10 podiums and third in the Drivers ’Championship. This success was surpassed in 1994 when he won six races, including his home Grand Prix at Silverstone. These performances helped the team recover from the tragic loss of his team mate Ayrton Senna in that year’s San Marino Grand Prix.

At the end of an impressive season, Damon missed winning Drivers ’Championship title by just one point following a controversial collision with Michael Schumacher at the Australian Grand Prix. In 1995, after achieving four wins, seven pole positions and nine podiums, Damon once again finished second in the World Championship for Drivers. By then he was well established as one of Formula 1’s leading stars.

The 1996 season marks the highlight of Damon’s career with eight victories from 16 races, nine pole positions, five fastest laps and 10 podium finishes. At the Japanese Grand Prix, he took his final win of the season and secured the Drivers’ Championship.

After racing for the Arrows team in 1997, Damon moved to Jordan Grand Prix. At the 1998 Belgian Grand Prix he scored the team’s first ever Formula 1 victory, leading home a record- breaking 1-2 finish with teammate Ralf Schumacher.

Damon’s 22 race wins have earned him a place among the top 15 winning drivers in Formula 1. He is one of only four people to have won BBC Sports Personality of the Year twice and he was awarded an OBE in the 1997 New Years Honours List.

After bringing his Formula 1 racing career to a close in 1999, Damon pursued business ventures and succeeded Jackie Stewart as President of the British Racing Drivers’ Club. Since 2012 he has been a member of the Sky Sports F1 broadcasting team.