Damon continued to give it his all in 1991, and even though the
Formula 3000 car was worse than the previous year's model and was being
beaten hands-down by the competition, Damon's dog-eared determination and
speed saw him as the only driver to lead a race in a Lola, and he
ended up seventh overall.
This attitude was exactly what Frank Williams was looking for in a test
driver for his Formula 1 team, and so it was that Damon took over the
role of Mark Blundell.
Damon fitted into the team perfectly and immediately began to impress
(some have been rumoured to say that he was Williams' best test driver
ever). It was Damon Hill who helped evolve the car that would
eventually lead Nigel Mansell on to his World Championship. Damon
was not only fast (sometimes lapping and running race-simulations quicker
than the F1 drivers could manage on race-days) but he was consistent,
which meant that any performance increase was due to mechanical
modifications rather than the driver.
In 1992 whilst still testing for Williams, Damon got the opportunity
to drive for the Brabham F1 team. They were having financial difficulties
and Damon was just the sort of driver they needed - one that would perform
to his maximum under difficult circumstances without complaining.
Damon made his Formula 1 debut at the British Grand Prix. It was demoralising
for Hill to see Nigel Mansell streak ahead and lap him in a car that he had
helped develop, but nevertheless Damon finished the race in 16th and would
also finish 11th in Hungary which was to be Brabham's last outing.
With a car that had only started one race that year, Damon qualified twice, and finished both races.