Montoya’s nightmare in practice

COLOMBIAN Juan Pablo Montoya made a nightmare start to his French Grand Prix weekend when he crashed his Williams in yesterday’s rain-hit first practice.

Montoya, hoping for a strong result at Magny-Cours after suffering two disqualifications in a row, skidded at turn six before he had completed a timed lap on a track made slippery by a sudden downpour.

The Colombian was unhurt but the car, which bounced and flew across the gravel before slamming into a tyre wall, was shattered by the impact and needed extensive repairs before the afternoon session.