DAMON HILL completed a personal mission in Suzuka yesterday when he clinched the 1996 World Championship with a masterly victory in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Yet it was the symbolism of a dominant triumph in the race which did as much for his prestige as a Formula One driver as the fact that he emulated his late father Graham's achievements, thus becoming the sport's first second generation title winner.

For the past four races, Hill's form had become progressively more erratic as his Williams Renault team mate, Jacques Villeneuve, stepped up the pressure with a late challenge to his championship advantage. Yet yesterday, the Englishman who lives in Dublin reclaimed the decisive form which had given him such a confident edge in the opening races of the year.

Although Villeneuve qualified on pole position, 0.4 seconds ahead of Hill, the Canadian driver made a poor start, finishing the opening lap in sixth place. Hill surged away in the lead and was never to be passed, even during his two refuelling stops during the 53 lap race.

When Villeneuve spun off after a rear wheel came adrift, Hill knew his championship points total could not be beaten. However he pressed on relentlessly, determined to score what could conceivably be the final win of his career.

Discarded by Williams, Hill moves to the TWR Arrows Yamaha team next year to build' a future from Formula One's second division. He even went so far as to acknowledge that this season was probably his last chance to win the world championship.

"I never took the view that this championship was going to be a walkover," he said. "Right from the start, I knew it was going to be close and I had to make as much of an advantage as I could before Jacques got up to speed and got into the swing of things.

But it could have gone the other way, Jacques could have been champion and I would have been feeling pretty sick. But I know Jacques is going to get another chance. He is still very young and quick. To be honest, it had to be this year for me and I'm really, really delighted.

"Jacques was a match for me by the end of the season but my motivation was to keep ahead and win the championship. I had the added pressure of having to finish races, while he was coming from behind and could take more risks.

"There's a lot to take on board right now. Towards the end of the season, it got more difficult and could have gone either way. I could drive without taking too many risks today, keeping an adequate gap while driving within my limits."

Hill's acknowledgment that it was probably now or never for him as far as the world championship was concerned reflects an acceptance that the baton may have passed to a younger generation.

Next year, Michael Schumacher, a close second for Ferrari yesterday, believes he will have the car and equipment to win back his championship. Villeneuve will be among his main opposition, together with his new Williams team mate, Heinz Harald Frentzen, and young chargers Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, in their McLarens.

The Suzuka race also left question marks over the long term futures of Benetton team mates Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi. Although the veteran Berger finished fourth, he only just avoided a collision with Hill early in the race and later rammed Eddie Irvine's Ferrari into retirement.

Alesi, meanwhile, blotted his copybook by writing off his car in a massive accident as he exited the first corner of the race. Since losing Schumacher to Ferrari at the end of last season, Benetton have failed to win a race and neither of their drivers emerged from the Japanese Grand Prix with much credit.

Like his father before him, Damon Hill took his chances and has reaped the richly deserved rewards. There have been times this season when he did not seem to drive like a world champion in waiting but, equally, there were moments when he harnessed the performance advantage of his Williams Renault to brilliant effect.

The bottom line is that he won the world championship by winning eight of the season's 16 races. But as he takes the coveted race Number One to the Arrows team next season, he will do so knowing he is unlikely to enjoy such success again.