Sperafico, Coloni ready to resume winning ways.

After the pause in the schedule due to Canadian Grand Prix, the FIA F3000 circus returns to action at the N?rburgring this weekend, with Coloni Motorsport looking to return to the front of the field after a difficult Monaco round.

The German track, dominated by the wonderful Adenau castle, is still one of the most fascinating and demanding circuits of the whole F3000 campaign, even if the legendary Nordschleife is no longer used, and Coloni has prepared carefully for the fifth race of the year, with both drivers spending a few days testing possible Nurburgring set-ups at Magione.

For Ricardo Sperafico, the weekend provides a first chance to redeem himself after his part in - and subsequent disqualification for - Giorgio Pantano's exit in Monte Carlo, and the BMW-WilliamsF1 test driver has vowed to give 110 per cent in order to get a good result on a track he regards as 'friendly' after taking third and second there in the past two years.

"At N?rburgring, I always seem to have got very good outcomes - a third place in 2001 and a second place in 2002," he reflected, "I know the track and I was always able to be quick there. We also have a really competitive car and we can aim at the podium and maybe more for sure."

Team-mate Zsolt Baumgartner is looking to follow his excellent career best fifth place in Monaco with a repeat at the N?rburgring - possibly improving enough to register his first podium in the championship.

"N?rburgring is a track I know well and really like," the Hungarian said, "I always got good results there, as in 2002. In the Formula Renault Eurocup here, I took my first podium and I've been tied to this circuit since. The experience I gained in German F3 will be very useful, and I'm looking forward to a great result, as in Monaco. With a good qualifying time - at least in the first five or six positions - I think I can aspire to the podium."

Practice and qualifying take place on Friday, with the race following final F1 qualifying on Saturday afternoon.

"We are very confident for the N?rburgring race, as in 2002 we were very competitive," team principal Paolo Coloni said, "This circuit is very favourable to Ricardo, he always got good results here, and I'm sure that we will able to exploit his experience. As for Zsolt, he too knows the track well, and I am sure we can take the victory we missed last year."