APRIL 17, 2001

Coulthard hopes stability is key

DAVID COULTHARD's title attack continued in San Marino as he scored his fourth podium position in four races, and he now hopes that a stable European season could help it to continue.

Things have not gone McLaren's way so far this season, and Williams broke their and McLaren's stranglehold of race wins in the Imola event, but Coulthard has ridden his luck to move into equal championship lead.

"I have had a great start to the season," said Coulthard. "We are not as well positioned as we would like with the car, but I am sure we can sort those problems out as the year goes on.

"It's good to have routine again although I do enjoy the fly-aways as they cut you off from the normal demands on your life.

"Now I will do a couple of days testing at Silverstone and I will be back home in Monaco on the Thursday night onwards until the Thursday of the next Grand Prix.

"That gives me a solid week at home, I will probably do five days training in that time, and it helps to have a regular sleep pattern too."