BARCELONA, May 14: Canadian Jacques Villeneuve is looking to get back to winning ways at the sixth round of the Formula One World Championship at Barcelona, Spain, on Sunday. Villeneuve has seen his world championship lead whittled away by the in-form former world champion Michael Schumacher, who leads the title chase by four points after his victory in Monaco.

Last year in heavy rain, Schumacher scored his first victory for Ferrari in Barcelona, but he is not so confident about his chances against the Castrol-backed Rothmans Williams Renault duo of Villeneuve and San Marino Grand Prix winner Heniz-Harald Frentzen, around the demanding Barcelona circuit.

Villeneuve finished third on his debut in Barcelona last year, with Frentzen finishing fourth driving the Sauber Ford. The Williams team often test at the circuit and so are confident of regaining the Drivers Championship lead and reducing the eight-point lead Ferrari have in the Constructors Championship.

Schumacher also won the race in 1995, driving the Benetton. Last year, the 4.725 km (2.936 miles) Catalunya circuit was modified by enlarging the run off areas and with alterations to the Nissan corner. In 1991 Nigel Mansell, driving the Williams, won the first Grand Prix at the circuit which is situated to the north-east of Barcelona. It was used during the 1992 Olympic Games and includes some demanding, fast corners and a long, high-speed straight. The 65 lap race starts at 14.00 hrs local time.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.