Schumacher Wary of Williams Challenge in Germany

World Champion Michael Schumacher believes the Williams team will be hard to beat at next weekend's European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring circuit.

The German Ferrari driver, winner of six of the first eight races of the season, arrives at his home Grand Prix with a massive 43-point lead over his Williams rivals Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher, who at the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago failed to score any points.

Montoya, however, started from pole position for the second consecutive race, and though four-time champion Schumacher is confident of a strong race from his team, the Ferrari driver is expecting the Williams drivers to be very competitive throughout the weekend.

"We feel ready, given that apart from my work, Luca Badoer tested at Mugello and Luciano Burti in Jerez," said Schumacher, winner at Nurburgring three times in the past. "The most important thing for the Nurburgring is to have a well balanced car, which is not easy to achieve. But I feel we can be confident and competitive even here at the Nurburgring.

"However, it is clear to see that the competition has got closer, as can be seen from the fact we did not get pole position at either of the last two races. I think it could be the same situation at the Nurburgring. I think BMW-Williams will go very well there."

The Williams team have lost out to their McLaren rivals in the last two races, with Scot David Coulthard winning in Monaco and finishing in second place behind Schumacher in Canada. Meanwhile, Williams have only scored a third place at Monte Carlo thanks to Ralf Schumacher.

But the elder Schumacher is expecting the Grove-based team to hold the upper hand over their rivals this weekend.

"It is obvious that in Canada, they would have been ahead of the McLaren-Mercedes if they had not had problems," added Schumacher. "I reckon they will be even stronger than McLaren. Overall, I feel the silver arrows are making progress and have improved a great deal, but BMW-Williams are definitely quicker.

"The McLarens go well on circuits where you need a lot of traction and that is not the case at the Nurburgring."