Ralf shines in Hockenheim heat

The race was stopped after a spectacular crash

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Ralf Schumacher scored a home victory after a dominant performance by the BMW Williams team in the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Schumacher was greeted with jubilant cheers as he took the chequered flag in front of a capacity crowd.

In a race strewn with major incidents, which saw the race re-started after Michael Schumacher collided with Luciano Burti on the first corner, only 10 of the original 22 starters managed to finish the 45-lap race.

And it was also characterised by a succession high-profile drivers retiring with various mechanical problems.

Montoya retired in the 25th lap

Defending world champion Michael retired in the 24th lap when his Ferrari lost power and limped out of the race.

He was joined a lap later by Juan Pablo Montoya, who had led the first half of the race from pole positions, as engine problems put paid to what looked poised to be the first Formula One victory of his career.

Ferrari managed a spot on the podium when Rubens Barrichello secured second spot, with Jacques Villeneuve in the BAR-Honda taking third.

The race began in dramatic fashion with a huge accident on the run down to the first corner.

Escaped

Luciano Burti crashed into the back of Michael Schumacher, who was cruising along with a broken gearbox.

Both drivers escaped unhurt, but the red flag was waved as the track was strewn with carbon-fibre debris from the smash.

Montoya accelerated away quickly at the re-start, pursued by team-mate Ralf and the two Ferraris.

The Colombian looked assured at the front of the grid, pulling away into a comfortable lead over Ralf.

The McLarens, buoyed by Mika Hakkinen's victory at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone two weeks ago, looked sluggish against the their two main rivals.

And they suffered a major blow when Hakkinen was forced into his sixth retirement of the season in the 13th lap.

Schumacher still has an enormous lead

A problem with the refuelling rig had demoted Montoya to fourth place at his stop on lap 23.

But that was just the start of his problems - his race ended two laps later with an engine failure.

Yet more misery was to follow for McLaren when Coulthard retired just seconds after exiting the pits on lap 27.

The Scot's already-faint hopes of wresting the world championshpi from Michael Schumacher are now all-but over.

The major casualties paved the way for Ralf to concentrate on maintaining his lead over his nearest rival Barrichello, who was some 50 seconds behind in second.

The high number of retirements gave the Benetton-Renaults of Jenson Button and Giancarlo Fisichella an opportunity to register valuable points.

Fischella finished behind Villeneuve, who finished 16 seconds behind Brazilian Barrichello in third place.

Button, who has endured a poor season so far, was tailed closely by Jean Alesi in the Prost.

But the Englishman managed to hold off the Frenchman's challenge and finish in fifth.

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Result of Sunday's German Grand Prix:

1. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams, one hour 18 minutes 17.873 seconds
2. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 46.177 seconds behind
3. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1.02.806
4. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Benetton 1.03.477
5. Jenson Button (Britain) Benetton 1.05.454
6. Jean Alesi (France) Prost 1.13.950
7. Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1.17.527
8. Enrique Bernoldi (Brazil) Arrows 1 lap
9. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Arrows 1 lap
10. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Minardi 1 lap

Not classified:

Jarno Trulli (Italy) Jordan 34 laps completed
David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 27 laps
Tarso Marques (Brazil) Minardi 26 laps
Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 24 laps
Luciano Burti (Brazil) Prost 23 laps
Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 23 laps
Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 16 laps
Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Sauber 16 laps
Mika Hakkinen (Finland) McLaren 13 laps
Ricardo Zonta (Brazil) Jordan 7 laps
Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 0 laps
Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 0 laps