MOTOR RACING: BELGIAN GRAND PRIX: SCHU-TEN STAR

NIGEL MANSELL is ready to relinquish a proud record here today to the man who keeps pushing back the barriers for Formula One.

British hero Mansell is on hand to join the acclaim for Michael Schumacher, the Ferrari driver poised to claim his 10th win of the season in the Belgium Grand Prix.

Mansell had nine victories in his championship-winning campaign of 1992. Since then Schumacher has managed to match that feat three times.

Now the German is intent on going one better, on the circuit where he made his Formula One debut 11 years ago and registered his maiden win 12 months later.

Schumacher, already world champion for a fifth time and way out on his own in the all-time rankings with 62 victories, gave himself the best possible opportunity by taking pole position in qualifying yesterday.

Mansell looked on approvingly and declared: "Records are there to be broken. Good luck to Michael."

Schumacher (right) was content to sit behind team-mate Rubens Barrichello in Hungary a fortnight ago and help the Brazilian up to second place in the championship.

But the champion wants to add another record to his collection and this circuit provides the perfect setting.

Schumacher, five times a winner here, said: "Spa is my favourite circuit and because of my racing history here, it would be the ideal result to get that 10th win in this race.

"I think we can look forward to the race with confidence, especially as I am starting from pole. I had a good feeling about qualifying today and that proved justified.

"I didn't realise I'd not had pole here before until someone asked me about it, so it's good to put that right this time."

Schumacher needed only two of a possible four runs to put the issue beyond doubt and defy the charge of Finland's Kimi Raikkonen.

The McLaren Mercedes driver still took a personal best second place on the grid.

Barrichello had to settle for third place, but that at least gives him the advantage over his rivals for the championship runner-up position.

Raikkonen is now regularly upstaging team-mate David Coulthard, who gambled on a different tyre and managed only sixth position.

Raikkonen said: "I had a chance to be on pole but a combination of dust and traffic meant I couldn't quite make it.

"Even so, second is my best qualifying position so far and I have to be happy with that. It would be nice to go one better in the race.

"Our car is good here and I hope I can fight Michael in the race. You can never be sure about that but I think we have a good chance."

Raikkonen's stirring performance this weekend is another blow to Coulthard, who is coming under increasing pressure from the 22-year- old. The Scot also finds Williams BMW pair Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya ahead of him on today's grid.

Coulthard said: "Kimi has driven well all weekend and has done a really good job. I chose a different tyre to Kimi because I was advised it would be better in the race. It was a gamble and hopefully it will pay off.

"If our information is correct, I should be in a much better shape for the race and a podium finish is a realistic objective." Eddie Irvine was delighted after his best qualifying display of the season.

The Jaguar driver, who lines up eighth on the grid, said: "After such a difficult season it's great to find ourselves at the sharp end for this race.

"Now I'm looking forward to a good fight and a similar performance. Who knows, we might even get a point. We'll certainly be trying for it."

England's Jenson Button was less satisfied with 10th place, three behind Renault team-mate Jarno Trulli. Scotland's Allan McNish, who will be dumped by Toyota at the end of the season, starts from 13th.

Anthony Davidson, having his second race for Minardi today, was out-qualified by his Australian team mate Mark Webber and couldn't hide his dismay.

Davidson said: "I'm gutted. I should have been closer to Mark but got held up on my last run. I really wanted to impress so it will all have to be on the race."

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