German Heinz-Harald Frentzen yesterday clocked the fastest time in opening practice for tomorrow's Austrian Grand Prix. Frentzen clocked a best time of one minute and 11.527 seconds on the new A1-Ring track at Zeltweg, beating his Williams team-mate Jacques Villeneuve by one-tenth of a second.

World championship leader Michael Schumacher of Germany in a Ferrari was seventh quickest, but within a second of Frentzen, a gap he is capable of overhauling before the end of today's qualifying session.

Schumacher leads Villeneuve by 10 points after 13 rounds of the championship. Villeneuve finished fifth to Schumacher's sixth in the last grand prix at Monza, with Frentzen third.

Defending champion Damon Hill, who confirmed he will be joining the Jordan team for 1998 and 1999, was reduced from fastest man following Thursday's unofficial session, to 11th. During the session he abandoned his Arrows car out on the track.

Several other drivers also had problems including Villeneuve, Finland's Mika Hakkinen in a McLaren, and Frenchman Jean Alesi, in a Benetton, who all spun. It seemed most drivers were pushing hard to test the tight and unfamiliar track in the Styrian Alps on the second day in dry conditions.

Brazil's Rubens Barrichello in a Stewart was third fastest yesterday and Giancarlo Fisichella of Italy was fourth in a Jordan. Fisichella moves to Benetton next season, allowing Hill to join the Jordan team.

A Frentzen win tomorrow could help Williams move back to the top of the constructors' world championship in which they currently trail Ferrari by a single point.

Colin McRae and the 555 Subaru World Rally Team have made a determined comeback in the World Championship stakes, the Scot pulling out a massive 35-second lead over Tommi Makinen (Mitsubishi) after only eight Special Stages in the Rally of Indonesia.