FORMULA ONE: M. Schumacher eager to fufill fan hopes at home race
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 28, 2001HOCKENHEIM, Germany - If Michael Schumacher wins the German Grand Prix on July 29, it will set off wild celebrations around the Hockenheim circuit. Germany's Schumacher is a huge favorite among the fans, many of whom wear Ferrari red and wave Ferrari banners while filling the air with the blare of air horns and fireworks every time his Ferrari enters the stadium section of the track.
"Coming to Hockenheim is always a great pleasure for me," he said, "as this is my second home race. The Motodrom (stadium section) usually looks like a sea of red, which is a very special feeling. I am fortunate to get so much support from the fans. The atmosphere here is not only absolutely special but also, I would say, unique in Formula One."
Schumacher has won the German Grand Prix before, but it was in 1995 when he drove for Benetton. But this year he believes that his Ferrari will be competitive on the Hockenheim circuit.
"We have a car which is competitive on all sorts of circuits and circumstances," he said, "and I look forward to this again, but now we have to prove it."
Last year, Schumacher's teammate, Rubens Barrichello, scored his first career Grand Prix victory at Hockenheim.
"Hockenheim holds the best memories of my racing career because of my win in last year's German Grand Prix," Barrichello said. "You are not supposed to win from 18th place, particularly in F1, and that made the day even more special."
Mika Hakkinen, meanwhile, hopes to keep that winning feeling with a victory in Germany two weeks after he broke his 14-race losing streak with a win in the British Grand Prix in his West McLaren-Mercedes.
"That victory at Silverstone means a lot to me," Hakkinen said. "It also demonstrated that I am as committed to winning as ever. The idea, of course, is for the whole team, David Coulthard and me to come here to win the Grand Prix, but I suppose all the other drivers have more or less the same thinking, the same idea. It was difficult at Silverstone, and I believe it's going to be even harder here to do the same as we did there. I'm confident of coming here with a car that is quick. Whether it's going to be quick enough, I don't know."
The Williams-BMW team also is expected to put in a strong showing this weekend.
"The high-speed Hockenheim circuit, with its long straights, should suit us," said BMW Motorsport Director Dr. Mario Theissen. "This season so far has shown we are very well prepared in terms of engine power, and engine-wise, Hockenheim is the most demanding circuit."
Williams-BMW driver Ralf Schumacher was in a relaxed and humorous mood on the day before practice began for his home race.
"I'm relaxed," he said. "Why not? It's a nice, sunny day - why shouldn't I relax? All of us expect a lot from this weekend, but if it doesn't happen, well, there's always the next race."
The German Grand Prix is the 12th of 17 races this season. Michael Schumacher leads the World Championship with 84 points, and Coulthard is second with 47.
"There are six races to go, and we are looking to build on the second positions held in both the Drivers and Constructors titles," Coulthard said. "The German Grand Prix is always an interesting race, often affected by the unpredictable weather conditions."
Text provided by Paul Kelly
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