OCTOBER 19, 2000

McLaren geared to attempt manufacturers' title

TEAM-MATE's Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard believe they can overhaul Ferrari's 13-point advantage and secure the 2000 manufacturers' title for McLaren.

Hakkinen lost out to Michael Schumacher in the drivers' title hunt in Japan but he has promised the Woking-based team that he will being doing his utmost to prevent the Italian marque from claiming a double success in Malaysia.

"I'm focusing on getting a good result in Malaysia for both mine and the team's season in style," Hakkinen said. "I like the track because it's purpose built for Formula One and the facilities are excellent.

"The track offers numerous opportunities to overtake, which makes the race more exciting for everyone.

"I have got silver in the drivers' world championship, which isn't too bad, when you've won the title twice - you can't win all the time. Perhaps next year it will be my turn again."

Scot Coulthard, who needs a points finish to secure third in the standings, insisted he liked the Sepang circuit and backed Hakkinen in his belief that McLaren can become manufacturers' champions.

"We still have a chance of winning the constructors' championship and both Mika and myself will be doing everything we can," Coulthard said. "Sepang is a fairly technical circuit as it has a good mixture of corners and some fast straights."