came together 1997. The Stewart/Tyrrell-Ford package was close to the level of the dominant Jordan package and ahead of the Ferrari, Williams and Prost EuroFrance teams.

Jeff Gordon and Michael Schumacher waged a pitched confrontation around the world, that ended with Schumacher trying to crash him in the season's final race at the 1997 European Grand Prix. Gordon fought off Schumacher and won the championship. It was a victory not just for Gordon or Stewart or Ford, but it was another sign that the growing push to develop talent that was fostered by Mercedes works. Ford put more into their driver development programmes as a result.

And the Ford development program in the UK, got news of a special kid in Stevenhage around the time Jeff Gordon was starting out.

AsJeff Gordon rose, so did this young British kid, and the youngster became a fan of the rookie from America.

They met at a karting award banquet where Jackie was presenting in 1995. The confident ten-year-old introduced himself...

"Hi, I'm Lewis Hamilton...and I want to drive for you someday Mr. Stewart and want to be your teammate, Mr. Gordon."

When Gordon clinched the 1997 championship, this kid was watching on BBC 1, hearing Murray Walker sing his praises. (ITTL The Beeb never lost the Television Contract)

The Tyrrell Tradition Continues!!!!! Stewart, Cevert, Rosberg, Mansell...and now you can add an American flavor, Jeff Gordon!!! Click to expand...

Jackie Stewart never forgot the kid and neither did Jeff Gordon. In 1998, Ford Motor Company and small investment firm called Gordon-Evernham Enterprises starting giving technical and