1999 saw Formula One celebrate 50 years as the worlds top motor racing series.  The season was a classic and worthy of the title, the most open in years, producing six winners and four title contenders.

In the early rounds the Championship was fought out between Mika Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher until the German's accident at the British Grand Prix.  Ferrari, who had a real possibility of winning the Drivers' World championship, were despondent but they had not taken into account Eddie Irvine rising to the challenge.

McLarens reliability and mistakes by Hakkinen in San Marino and Monza together with Ferraris strategy gave Irvine a genuine chance of taking the title, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and David Coulthard notched up two victories each to put themselves in the frame.

In the end the Championship again went down to the wire to the final race in Japan where Hakkinen (Mclaren) and Irvine (Ferrari) fought a psychological and tactical battle dividing the Drivers' and Constructors' Championship between them.

A most unpredictable season produced truly dramatic racing.  Edie Irvines' maiden win in Melbourne, Ferraris' first one/two in Monaco, unforgettable racing in Canada and France, Stewarts' first win at the Nurburgring, Michael Schumachers' stunning return in Malaysia and of course, the thrilling showdown in Japan were just some of the highlights.

Other notables included Jordans' move into the premier league, sensational drives by Ralf, the other Schumacher, Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Rubens Barrichello, British American Racings' struggle to match their pre-season promise and Damon Hills' final year in the series.