DC aims for Clark's British GP hat-trick

Lotus ace Clark went on to win a fourth consecutive race in 1965, and added a fifth and final win in 1967 and McLaren-Mercedes driver Coulthard says he wants to repeat his fellow Scot's achievement.

"It would be brilliant if I could do that," he said, "because I really need to win the British GP this year. Just from a history point of view, you'd rather leave your mark on British motorsport than other countries. It's nice to have won Australia, France, all the places I've won, but there's nothing quite like winning at home."

Coulthard concedes that after Michael Schumacher stretched his advantage to 31 points after the French GP, Silverstone will be critical to his world championship aspirations. Since winning the Austrian GP in May, Coulthard has taken just one podium in four races - compared to three wins and a second for the Ferrari driver.

"It would be an important victory for my championship hopes," he said. "They have taken a dip recently, but are by no means over."

The 30-year-old says he feels more comfortable racing at home and enjoys the added support of a home-town crowd.

"The most amazing thing I've ever heard in a GP car was in '95 when I overtook Jean Alesi to take the lead of the race," he said. "I could hear the crowd cheering above the noise of the car. I remember thinking, 'what the hell was that?' And I realised it was the crowd. It's just incredible."

Three British drivers are set to take the start of Sunday's race at Silverstone, with Eddie Irvine lining-up for the improving Jaguar Racing and Jenson Button hoping for a change in his fortunes with the struggling Benetton-Renault team. Coulthard, Schumacher and BAR-Honda's Jacques Villeneuve are the only former winners in the 22-car field.