MOTOR RACING: SO SPA SO GOOD; Now Jenson's dreaming of first Formula

JENSON BUTTON aims to stun the world championship contenders with a dream first victory in Formula One here today.

The 20-year-old British driver put down his marker with a magnificent third place in yesterday's qualifying session for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Now he is looking to cap his maiden season and bid farewell to Williams BMW from the top of the podium.

Button said: "I'm going for victory. It's going to be tough but of course I want to win. I always drive my own race. I won't be thinking about anyone else."

Championship leader Mika Hakkinen starts on pole in his McLaren Mercedes but right behind him are Jordan's Jarno Trulli and Britain's youngest ever Formula One driver, who will be dropped at the end of the season by Williams to make way for Juan Pablo Montoya.

Next on the grid are Hakkinen's title rivals Michael Schumacher, of Ferrari, and David Coulthard in the other McLaren.

Button, who joins Benetton for the next two years, defied Schumacher and Coulthard with his best qualifying performance.

He said: "It's absolutely amazing to be third. When the team told me I was P3 I shouted so loud I must have made them deaf.

"This shows the benefit of knowing a circuit. I raced here in Formula Three and it's a really exciting circuit.

"I was expecting to make the top six but you always want to do better. No matter where you are on the grid you want pole.

"I've said all along I want to make the podium before the end of the season and it would be nice to do it here. But the ultimate target is a win."

Williams' technical director Patrick Head said: "A brilliant qualifying performance from Jenson. This effort has earned the team its best qualifying position of the year."

Button's ambition is bad news for the championship hopefuls. Hakkinen admits he doesn't know what to expect from Trulli and Button.

The Finn, leading Schumacher by two points, said: "It's much more difficult with these guys. I know what Michael and David do when we get to the first corner.

"These guys I don't really know so I'm certainly worried. I hope they stay cool and make no mistakes and we get round the first corner with no problem."

Schumacher's hopes of becoming Ferrari's first champion since 1979 suffered another setback and rain could be his only saviour.

Coulthard's session turned into a running battle with Jordan's Heinz-Harald Frentzen. The Scot, six points off his team mate in the championship with five races left, was held up by Frentzen in a blatant tit-for-tat move.

Coulthard confronted Frentzen later and they hardly kissed and made up.

"We had a conversation," Coulthard confirmed. "I got blocked on my first run and Frentzen felt I also held him up. He then held me up and it ruined my lap. He felt it was pay back time."

Jaguar pair Johnny Herbert and Eddie Irvine qualified ninth and 12th.

Copyright 2000 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.