Hakkinen says he can hold off Schumacher

   Copyright c 1998 Nando Media
   Copyright c 1998 Reuters

SILVERSTONE, England (Jul 9, 1998 - 12:15 EDT) - World championship leader
Mika Hakkinen believes his experience and McLaren's preparation will give
him the edge over the hard-charging Ferrari of Michael Schumacher in the
British Grand Prix on Sunday.

Schumacher, aiming to maintain the momentum after winning the Canadian and
French Grands Prix has closed the gap from 22 to just six points on
Hakkinen at the halfway mark in the series.

"There is always going to be pressure and when you are in the leading
position the pressure is going to be ever more," said the Finn, who
has led the championship since the season-opener in Australia.

"On the other hand, I am in a fortunate position because I am ahead
and they are trying to catch me. I am leading the championship and that is
the most important thing.

"But I also have raced for many, many years and I have huge
experience. I have seen three or four times as much as many other grand
prix drivers in the field and I would be surprised if they were better than
me in terms of preparation."

On the back of their victory in France last month, Ferrari believe they can
now launch a serious push for their first drivers' title since Jody
Scheckter in 1979 and their first constructors' crown since 1983.

Ferrari have good reason to feel satisfied with their performance at Magny
Cours, their first 1-2 since the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix, because it was
the first time they beat the McLarens, so dominant early in the season, in
a straight fight.

But Schumacher's team mate Eddie Irvine has warned against over-optimism
within the Ferrari camp.

"You still have to say that McLaren have a reasonable advantage over
us," said Irvine, who has finished on the podium five times this year.

"Silverstone will be difficult for us because McLaren have been
testing there all year, but I see us being pretty close everywhere from now
on."

Meanwhile, David Coulthard, 20 points behind team mate Hakkinen, is
confident he can turn around his luck after mechanical problems have seen
him score just one point since the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

"I really need a kick-start to the championship and the British Grand
Prix is the one event of the year which would be my choice for a win,"
he said.

"It's going to be difficult to pull back 20 points but in the same way
that I am 20 points down at the halfway stage of the season, you have to
say it is possible I can pick them up again."

Sunday's race marks the 50th anniversary of the first British Grand Prix,
held at the former airfield in 1948 and two years before the official world
championship began. That event was won by Italian Luigi Villoresi in a
Maserati.

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