Record attendance at Silverstone.

The British Grand Prix this weekend at Silverstone was a resounding success after attendance figures for the three day event exceeded 250,000. Rob Bain - Chief Executive of Octagon Motorsports - said: "We are absolutely delighted to have played host to a record breaking attendance over the three days of 267,000."

McLaren driver Mika Hakkinen won the British Grand Prix on Sunday and in doing so took his first-time career win at the circuit as well as ending an 11-month victory drought. Hakkinen finished ahead of championship leader Michael Schumacher as his disappointing season, in which he had scored just nine points before the race, received a major boost.

Schumacher, however, extended his advantage in the standings to 37 points over David Coulthard, who was denied a third straight Silverstone win, after the British driver was an early retirement.

Schumacher stormed into the lead with Hakkinen behind, but Coulthard and Jarno Trulli collided at the opening corner with the Italian's Jordan ending in the gravel. BAR's Olivier Panis also retired after a coming together with his teammate (Jacques Villeneuve), but Coulthard continued finally accepting defeat with rear suspension damage on lap three.

"You can't win the race into the first corner but you can certainly lose it and, for sure, he made a better start than me, but I was still ahead going into turn one. I know he's going to see it differently but he's not in the championship battle," said DC.

But Trulli responded: "I had a good start and was level with David but he closed the door and I couldn't find any space. I think he should have taken it easy at the first corner."

Hakkinen took the lead from Michael Schumacher on lap five at Copse and then remained in front after the opening pit-stops. Prost driver Luciano Burti, meanwhile retired on lap six after spilling oil onto the circuit.

Ralf Schumacher joined the list of retirements when he pulled off the circuit at Priory on lap 38, minutes after a problem with the fuel hose had delayed him during his pit-stop. "I heard a strange noise with the engine and decided to switch it off," said Schumacher.

Race leader Hakkinen and Michael Schumacher both pitted at the end of lap 39 and the McLaren driver was left with a 21.1 second advantage as he remained in front. Hakkinen increased his advantage over Schumacher as Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello and Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya remained in third and fourth respectively.

Sauber's Kimi Raikkonen and Nick Heidfeld completed an impressive weekend as they finished in the two final points-scoring positions.