Ralf Schumacher stole the limelight from his illustrious brother Michael to roar to the maiden win of his career in Imola yesterday.

The 25-year-old German's triumph in the San Marino Grand Prix in Italy denied Britain's David Coulthard back-to-back wins for the first time and an outright lead in the world championship.

But second place was enough to move Coulthard level on points with Schumacher senior, whose hopes of a hat-trick of wins on the track were left in disarray by an ailing Ferrari.

The reigning champion was forced to retire but he was the first to congratulate his brother, warmly embracing Ralf after he came home just 4.3 seconds ahead of Coulthard to win at the 70th attempt.

The duo became the first brothers in championship history to win a race, just two weeks after they became the first brothers to occupy the front row of the grid.

It also gave Williams BMW their first victory in almost four years and turned the championship into a three-team fight.

Schumacher junior led throughout the 62-lap battle after scorching away from third place on the grid to overtake the McLarens of pole-sitter Coulthard and Mika Hakkinen by the first corner.

''It's fantastic to have finally won - I hope it will be one of many,'' said Schumacher, who followed his brother into Formula One in 1997 with Jordan before joining Williams two years later.

''I have seen my brother win so many times and it was very emotional for me to finally do the same.

''I first thought about winning the race with about 40 laps to go but then I remembered the Nurburgring last year when I was leading 16 laps from the end but did not win.

''But I've waited a long time for this and it has taken a lot of work since I joined Williams. I had the best car on the circuit today - it was perfect really.

''This could be the beginning of something for Williams. We have had a lot of bad luck in recent races.

''We still have a lot of work to do but if we can keep improving then we will be able to compete for the championship.''

Schumacher, who like his brother first honed his skills in karting at home in Kerpen, has threatened to score his maiden win several times.

He was denied a possible victory in Belgium in 1998 when he was ordered not to challenge his then team-mate Damon Hill and had to settle for the first of two second places, his previous best result.

This time he dominated the race before easing up in the final few laps and showed that he has the potential to win the title.

Coulthard admitted he would have struggled to fend off the Williams even if he had made a clean getaway after claiming his 11th career pole to deny his Ferrari rival a record-equalling eighth pole in a row.

But the Scot maintaining his podium presence in this season's first four races, and is equal with Schumacher senior on 26 points.

''The car rolled just before the start and I had to stop. I thought I was then going to be engulfed,'' said Coulthard.

''I just had to check on Ralf's pace and unfortunately he was just too quick. Even if I had got ahead at the start I think he would have got me later, maybe in the pit-stops.

''It's disappointing when you don't win from pole, but six points is a good result and I'm right up there with Michael.''

Schumacher senior had a nightmare day in front of the 'tifosi', Ferrari's fanatical fans, as he failed to get among the points for the first time since last July's German Grand Prix.

He started from fourth and dropped to eighth early on. But although he moved back to seventh he then suffered a puncture on his 23rd lap and retired one lap later with a brake problem.

''I am very happy for Ralf,'' said Schumacher, who was brought in by Ferrari amid fears he could crash in a repeat of the 1999 smash at Silverston, which left him with a broken leg.

''He has shown strongly in the past and he has also had some bad luck. But this time everything went well and he did it in style.

''We have both achieved our goal and our parents will be very proud."

Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished over 34 seconds adrift in third place to stay third in the drivers' championship but just two points ahead of the race winner.

Mika Hakkinen was fourth in the other McLaren to slip further adrift of his team-mate Coulthard, while the Jordans of Jarno Trulli and Heinz-Harald Frentzen claimed the other points.

Benetton's Jenson Button finished two laps down in 12th while Eddie Irvine was forced to retire with an engine problem.

Button, who had started 21st after a nightmare in qualifying, was not helped when he was forced to make two pit stops in succession after no fuel went into his car at the first attempt.

''In the first few laps I managed to catch up with some cars, but I then had a setback as no fuel went into the car at the first pit stop,'' he said.