Ralf 'upbeat' about Canada chances

"Ralf will do whatever it takes to get in that car. The key question is whether he's going to be declared race fit," said BMW Williams spokesman Nav Sidhu.

However, Schumacher also has to pass a medical with Formula One's doctor Professor Sid Watkins on Thursday before being allowed back into the car. "From past experience I believe they do two tests - how quickly the driver can get out of the cockpit, and jumping off a chair on one leg," added Sidhu.

Schumacher and stand-by driver Bruno Junqueira, leader of the Formula 3000 championship, are both in Montreal awaiting the outcome of the last-minute health check.

"Last week's Ralf's chances were 50/50 now I would say they are 70-30 in his favour," said the Williams BMW spokesman.

"He's still limping a bit," acknowledged Sidhu, "but while he may not be able to walk, I don't think he'd have too much trouble sitting in a car, because the forces on his leg would be lateral as opposed to vertical.

"But he's feeling a lot more confident about his chances of driving than he was two or three days ago."