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Damon Hill (seen in the pits above) managed just one lap in his new Arrows car yesterday but still declared: "It was a bloody good start."

The world champion completed just one circuit of Silverstone's south track before darkness descended to cut short the testing session of the new Arrows Yamaha A18. But Hill was more than happy with what he experienced despite poor visibility on the circuit. "I think it went perfectly. I was really pleased because there was a lot of tension before we started," he said.

"We have worked really hard to get the car ready and it did its job. This was just a shakedown before we go serious testing in Jerez in Spain."

Hill believed that it would be a vital morale booster to the Arrows team. "It was a good thing to do because everyone in the factory now knows that the car is up and running," he said.

Photograph: Mark Thompson/Allsport