Bridgestone predict 'hotly' contested European GP.

Bridgestone Motorsport has its sights set firmly on providing its four teams with the most competitive tyres for this weekend's European Grand Prix at the German Nurburgring circuit.

With Monaco just a few days beforehand, all testing for the specifications to be used at round seven was done in the weeks beforehand.

Teams will also have had a race against time in transporting their equipment from Monaco to the German circuit in time.

Located in the Eifel mountain range, the Nurburgring is likely to throw up a few weather surprises this weekend and two of the keys to success will be tactical flexibility and having competitive tyres for both dry and wet conditions - something Bridgestone is confident it can supply its teams with. And with the stage set for a thrilling European Grand Prix, the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro team will be gunning for further success. Sauber Petronas, Jordan Ford and Wilux Minardi Cosworth too, will be looking to give the front runners a run for their money - as they did in Monaco last Sunday.

"What a thrilling race in Monaco! Rubens did very well to claim his third place podium and I am particularly pleased for Sauber Petronas' Felipe Massa and Jordan Ford's Nick Heidfeld, who both scored points," reflected Bridgestone's director of motorsport, Hiroshi Yasukawa. "Sauber is now a well deserved fifth in the Constructors' Championship and I expect they will get stronger every race.

"I expect the European Grand Prix to be a hotly contested race and no doubt there will be plenty of support as we arrive at what is 'home' grand prix for two of the Bridgestone drivers: Michael Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld. There is always a fantastic atmosphere at this race and this will help to keep the momentum going on what can be a tiring couple of weeks when you have two races back to back."

1,400 Bridgestone Potenza Formula One tyres are on their way to the German Nurburgring circuit. These comprise of three dry weather tyre specifications, one wet weather tyre specification and one extreme weather tyre.

"The race at the Nurburgring is approximately one month earlier this year than last," added Bridgestone technical manager, Hisao Suganuma. "Because of this, we may have cooler conditions and have prepared ourselves accordingly. The Eifel area with its mountainous terrain also increases the likelihood of having rain at some point during the weekend but we are ready and waiting with our wet weather tyres.

"We have continued to work hard on this area, even though it is traditionally one of our strengths, and have made the most of any wet test days that have come our way during pre season testing. However, looking more closely at the circuit, it is a track that requires dry tyres with compounds from our mid to soft range due to the smooth surface.

"One of the key issues this weekend will be knowing how to set a good time in the first sector. There are a few slow corners in this opening sector so it is important to have a quick tyre through there in order to get a good overall lap time. We shall have three specifications of dry, grooved tyre at the Nurburgring and we expect each of them to be suitable for the race this Sunday."