Tyre brand can dictate where the laurels go

While all eyes this weekend are on the thrilling Villenueve versus Schumacher drivers' championship battle, Bridgestone are redoubling their efforts and could sideline the contenders at tomorrow's Luxembourg Grand Prix - the third last race of the season.

The Japanese tyre company could put a spanner in the works of a vital World championship round, where local hero Michael Schumacher is totally focused on extending his single-point lead over the improving Williams driver, Jacques Villenueve.

Ralf Schumacher will also benefit from a strong home support and will want to show he's as good a racer as his Jordan team-mate, Giancarlo Fisichella.

Bridgestone proved that they have the ability to win at Austria last weekend, with Jarno Trulli looking home and dry until the Mugen V10 let go and Rubens Barrichello could have been on the podium except for that momentary distraction in his battle with Michael Schumacher.

Not satisfied, Bridgestone have redoubled their efforts to win and were boosted by Barrichello's second place after yesterday's free practice at the Nurburgring. Corkonian, James Penrose, explained: "We have two new compounds of dry weather tyres which should be suitable for the cooler weather. We have 552 drys and 868 wets to service the eight cars, made up of a variety of types to cope with the often changeable conditions here".

A win for Bridgestone in their first year will make the big teams, especially Jordan with their Japanese engine next year, consider the option of using the Japanese rubber in 1998 or 1999.

Ferrari, meanwhile, are desperate to get Michael Schumacher back on the winning trail. "We know our car is not yet as good as the Williams but Michael is driving better than ever. He loves the track, we have a lot of support and he is fantastic under pressure. He won't crack!" said their French manager, Jean Todt. Schumacher, who was eighth fastest yesterday, said: "I was working to get rid of understeer. The car is working well but qualifying will be vital. No more predictions . . . F1 is getting too close and competitive now".

Ralf Schumacher is now getting the royal treatment at Jordan - including having the spare car this weekend. Yesterday he was fourth quickest - well ahead of Fisichella in ninth. "I am pleased with my performance today. At least I know the track well from my wins here in F3 in 1994 and 1995," said the Benson and Hedges driver who had to walk back to the pits after his car ran out of fuel on his last lap.

Jordan need a podium finish to maintain a realistic chance of closing the 11-point gap to McLaren by the end of the year.

Luxembourg Grand Prix (at Nurburgring, Germany): Leading times (after yesterday's opening practice sessions): 1 M Hakkinen (Fin) McLaren 1:17.998 (average 210.282), 2 R Barrichello (Bra) Stewart 1:18.339, 3 G Berger (Aut) Benetton 1:18.434, 4 R Schumacher (Ger) Jordan 1:18.713, 5 J Alesi (Fra) Benetton 1:18.794, 6 D Coulthard (Brit) McLaren 1:18.912, 7 H Frentzen (Ger) Williams 1:18.926, 8 M Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:18.954, 9 G Fisichella (Ita) Jordan 1:19.034, 10 D Hill (Brit) Arrows 1:19.091, 11 O Panis (Fra) Prost 1:19.412, 12 J Villeneuve (Can) Williams 1:19.640, 13 E Irvine (Ire) Ferrari 1:19.708, 14 P Diniz (Bra) Arrows 1:19.750, 15 S Nakano (Jpn) Prost 1:20.073, 16 J Herbert (Brit) Sauber 1:20.373, 17 J Magnussen (Den) Stewart 1:20.592, 18 J Verstappen (Ned) Tyrrell 1:20.947, 19 M Salo (Fin) Tyrrell 1:21.118, 20 G Morbidelli (Ita) Sauber 1:21.387, 21 T Marques (Bra) Minardi 1:21.424, 22 U Katayama (Jpn) Minardi 1:38.344.

. Jacques Villeneuve yesterday revealed that after a number of poor starts and pit stop problems this year, he had practised intensively earlier in the week with his Williams-Renault team.

"It would be stupid to lose the championship for a bad start," he said. "We also did work on pit stops, because it would be stupid to lose the championship there as well."

The three bad starts, the most recent a week ago in Austria, were caused by his misjudgment of clutch slip "in a 10th of a second," he said.

Villeneuve added that the problem was only visible because he was starting near the front of the grid - often on pole - and not in midfield. He came back from the Austrian problem to win the race.

The Canadian said he had also stepped up his fitness training for the final races that will decide the championship.

"It's been busier, definitely," Villeneuve said. "I spent more time in training, before Austria and before these races, so as not to leave anything to chance."