Monaco preview: Who can stop Nordic?

Between them, Nordic team mates Justin Wilson and Tomas Enge have won three of the four races run this year and scored consecutive one-three finishes at the A1-Ring two weeks ago and in Spain before that.

Wilson leads the championship and is seven points clear of his Czech team mate in second place on 18. The nearest contender is a consistent Bas Leinders who finished second in the last two races for his KTR team and has 12 points. However, while a run at the top is great for team morale, according to Wilson it also leads to greater expectation.

"We have started the year so strongly that anything less than a points finish would be out of the question," said Wilson. "We expect strong results in Monaco. To finish in the points would be the very least that we would accept."

With all drivers using the same Lola chassis, Avon tyres and Zytek engines, making up places is best done in qualifying, and grid position becomes even more important around the tight and twisty Monte Carlo circuit. The Nordic duo has only qualified inside the top three once this year and will be keen to lead from the front this weekend.

"As always, qualifying is the single most important event of the weekend and this is compounded at a place like Monaco," continued Wilson. "The track is very narrow and twisty, affording little opportunity to pass in the race. Therefore we need to be as close to the front of the grid as possible."

As ever, experience will play a part and drivers who have already raced around the Principality will certainly have an advantage. Super Nova's Mark Webber knows the circuit from last year and will be keen to add to his points tally after ending up in the gravel trap at the first corner in Austria.

British Formula 3 Champion Antonio Pizzonia lies a distant sixth in the standings and has yet to finish higher than fourth. Pizzonia has replaced last year's Monaco winner and champion Bruno Junqueira at the Petrobras Jr team for 2001. The rejuvenated Jaime Melo Jr could also be a contender, after finding a new lease of life having switched to the Durango team this year. The Brazilian is in his second year in the series and lies fifth in the championship.

Drivers not present in Monaco this weekend will be Antonio Garcia and Nicolas Filiberti. Garcia has been sacked by the Red Bull Jr team after only four races and is to replaced by Ricardo Mauricio, who raced for the squad last year.

"My results were more than good," said Garcia. "But it is obvious that the team don't believe so. As any other talented driver I need some time to make a miracle [in terms of results].

Filiberti's seat at the Prost Junior team will be filled by Stephane Sarrazin in a move that is thought to be a one-off. According to the French team the Argentine will miss the race due to "personal reasons". Sarrazin raced for the Mclaren Junior team last year until he was dropped mid-season.

Autosport.com will bring you full qualifying and race results over the weekend. Qualifying takes place on Friday at 0815 (BST) and the race at 1500 (BST) on Saturday.