Coulthard hopes for qualifying boost

David Coulthard believes he can grab the vital pole position for tomorrow's British Grand Prix and boost his hopes of a hat-trick of Silverstone victories.  

The 30-year-old is confident that his McLaren-Mercedes can out-pace championship leader Michael Schumacher's Ferrari.

Coulthard badly needs to win tomorrow's race to cut Schumacher's 31 point lead in the drivers' standings.

The Scot finished second in first practice yesterday behind team-mate Mika Hakkinen, with Schumacher fourth fastest behind fellow Ferrari racer Rubens Barrichello.

Coulthard's McLaren outfit have been quickest on the opening day for the past few races but been out-gunned by Schumacher's Ferrari in qualifying.

But Coulthard is hopeful of claiming his first pole in four races today.

He said: "I feel upbeat about our practice performance. The thing at the back of my mind is what surprise can Ferrari produce in qualifying.

"I believe it is possible we could be setting the pace around here but I would not be surprised if they go out in qualifying and produce something special.

"I feel more upbeat than in France and in Magny-Cours we were closer. I can win here from the second row but the front row would be better."

Coulthard would become the first man to win the race three years in succession since fellow Scot Jim Clark, who triumphed four times in a row in the 1960s and five times in all.

But Schumacher was not concerned about again being off the pace set by his closest rival on the opening day.

"McLaren have been fastest on Fridays recently, but in qualifying they have struggled so I am not worried," said Schumacher.

The German needs just one more win to equal Frenchman Alain Prost's world record of 51 career victories.