Michael Schumacher broke his leg and David Coulthard scored a home double.
Jacques Villeneuve enjoyed a remarkable debut Formula 1 season in 1996, including a victory at Silverstone. Pole position had gone to his Williams team-mate Damon Hill but he retired from the race. Gerhard Berger finished second for Benetton with Mika Hakkinen third for McLaren.
Villeneuve won again in 1997, on his way to the World Championship. Both Michael Schumacher and Hakkinen led the race but neither lasted the distance. Jean Alesi was second while Alexander Wurz made his first podium appearance, finishing third. Defending champion Hill scored his first point of the season in the Arrows, coming home sixth.
The 1998 race was run in tricky conditions which caught a few drivers out, including Hakkinen. The Finn was leading but, following a safety car period, a mistake allowed Michael Schumacher into the lead. The German maintained his lead to the flag, despite a late penalty. The Ferrari team brought Schumacher in to serve his penalty on the final lap, which meant that he crossed the finish line while in the pit-lane. Hakkinen came home second with Schumacher’s team-mate Eddie Irvine third.
Michael Schumacher had an unhappy experience at Silverstone in 1999. On the first lap his Ferrari went straight on at the fast Stowe corner and buried itself in a tyre barrier. Considering the speed of the impact he was lucky to emerge with only a broken right leg. David Coulthard went on to win the restarted race from Irvine and Ralf Schumacher.
Coulthard was again victorious in 2000, beating his team-mate Hakkinen. Michael Schumacher had recovered from the previous year’s accident and finished third, with his brother Ralf in fourth. A few days after his Silverstone win Coulthard had a miraculous escape from a plane crash in which the two pilots were killed.
Michael Schumacher had pole for the 2001 race but the win went to Hakkinen. Schumacher had to settle for second, ahead of his team-mate Rubens Barrichello. The German did win in 2002, with Barrichello second and Juan-Pablo Montoya third.
During the 2003 race the safety car was deployed while ex-priest Neil Horan was removed from the circuit. Horan had run on to the Hangar straight, into the path of oncoming car, waving religious placards. The race saw a popular win for Barrichello, followed by Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen.
Michael Schumacher was back on the top step of the podium in 2004. Joining him were Raikkonen in second and Barrichello in third. Jenson Button was the highest placed British driver in fourth. Jarno Trulli walked away from a sizeable accident when he crashed his Renault on the exit of Bridge corner.
Montoya was the winner in 2005, followed by Fernando Alonso, but the drive of the day belonged to Raikkonen. The Finn had received a ten place grid penalty because of an engine change, but drove an inspired race to finish third.
Alonso went one better in 2006, winning the race. Michael Schumacher made up one place from his starting position to finish second, ahead of Raikkonen. Raikkonen moved to Ferrari for 2007 and duly won at Silverstone, beating Alonso and local hero Lewis Hamilton. The impressive young Polish driver Robert Kubica finished fourth for BMW Sauber.
