European GP: Renault driver preview

Trulli and Button look forward to strong showing at the revised Nürburgring

Approaching the 2002 Grand Prix of Europe at the Nürburgring, Mild Seven Renault F1 Team driver Jarno Trulli is looking to maintain the momentum gained in the past two races as he returns to the scene of his best result in Formula 1, second place in the 1999 race.

The former German Formula 3 champion believes that knowledge of the circuit, and the region's capricious weather, will be a definite advantage as attempts to continue his run of points-scoring finishes.

"I think experience can be a real advantage here," said Trulli. "I know the circuit well, and I am used to reading the changing conditions. The time I spent in the junior formulae definitely helped me back in 1999.

"I don't think the circuit itself is anything special - it's pretty uninspiring really. There are no real opportunities for the driver to make big gains in lap time, so I will be concentrating on building up a good rhythm in order to perform competitively."

The Italian raced to an impressive fourth on the winding streets of Monte Carlo to claim his first points this year before following it up with a well-earned point at the Canadian Grand Prix. Combined with the performances of team-mate Jenson Button, Trulli believes that the team's form can serve as a platform for a strong finish in Germany.

"Overall, the team and I are performing well," added Trulli. "I'm confident that we will be competitive - for sure, it will be better than Canada, but you can never really know until we start running on Friday. Given how races can turn out with the variable weather, another podium finish could be on the cards!"

Briton Button is also hoping to put his recent bad luck behind him and return to the form that helped him to the three consecutive top-five finishes in March and April. He also predicts that the changes to the circuit will make for an open race.

"Canada was a difficult weekend for us, and we never really found the pace that we would have liked," he admitted. "The results in the last couple of races have been down to circumstances and some bad luck, really, but there's definitely nothing to be discouraged by.

"The Nürburgring will suit the car a lot better, and it does have a few quicker corners. I am looking forward to getting out onto the circuit seeing what the changes are like, although my favourite parts of the track are turns eight and nine after the hairpin.

"It is difficult to overtake, as it is at a lot of the circuits, but I expect the new turn one will result in a bit more action and overtaking then we have seen before."

The European Grand Prix marks the beginning of a full month for Formula One with four races in the space of six weeks, but Button has insisted that he will be more than capable with the rigours of the mid-season as well as a few personal appearances.

"I will be busy - it's definitely the most hectic part of year for drivers, especially as I will be driving at the Goodwood Festival of Speed between Silverstone and Magny-Cours. But it shouldn't take too much out of me: we only really need a couple of days to recover from a race, and I've been in top shape all year."

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