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Olivier Panis was probably the only man in Monte Carlo in 1996 who really thought that he had a chance of winning the Grand Prix, but then he knew better than anybody else just how good his Ligier had felt when he set very fast times during the pre-race m
Even so, getting to the front on a circuit renowned for its meager overtaking opportunities was going to be a tall order, especially as he would only start in 14th place.
Yet Panis did get to the front, to score a sensational victory. It was true that both Damon Hill and Jean Alesi had departed with mechanical problems, in Williams and Benetton respectively, while Michael Schumacher had made an early exit after making an e
Panis had started racing in karts before progressing through Elf's numerous junior categories. Two seasons in French F3 brought fourth and second places in the title chase, the latter by the narrowest of margins after he had won five races. Two seasons of
Fortune smiled on him initially, as he lucked into second place at Hockenheim in 1994, but Monaco was no fluke. Nor was the apparent victory he seemed headed for in the Bridgestone-shod Prost in Argentina in 1997, before the French car broke down. He back
He came back later that year with Prost, but the team had lost momentum. The following two seasons were a struggle with a bad car and a quick teammate, Jarno Trulli, who had stood in for him after his accident.
With only two sixth places from 1999, he was offered a BMW Williams seat for 2000 but turned it down in favor of a leading test role for McLaren. Immediately he was able to show his speed, and did a sufficiently good job to be signed by British American R
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