London: Ferrari's Michael Schumacher hopes to repair his dented reputation and make the headlines as a winner again at Silverstone on Sunday.
Castigated by former champions and mauled by the media for unfairly impeding his rivals in Monaco qualifying, the seven times world champion intends to reassert himself in the British Grand Prix.
The German is second overall but 21 points adrift of Renault's runaway championship leader Fernando Alonso after seven races.
However, he says his hopes of an unprecedented eighth Formula One title are far from over.
"There's no doubt about it; We need to close the gap and we're determined to start doing that at Silverstone," Schumacher said.
"The tests last week went off well for us so we have every reason to be optimistic for the weekend. There's no question about what our goal is: We're going to Silverstone to win."
Schumacher shattered the Barcelona track record in testing last week and was confident he could take his third win of the season at the circuit that hosted the first world championship race in 1950.
"We've improved several areas and I think everyone will be able to see that at Silverstone. We should be able to do well and fight for the win there," he said.
Alonso inherited pole position in Monaco after the stewards sent Schumacher to the back of the grid for deliberately preventing anyone from lapping faster at the end of the qualifying session.
The 24-year-old Spaniard, winner four times this year, is also confident that he can chalk up his third victory in a row.
"We had a good test at Silverstone and we know that the characteristics of the circuit are good for the R26, so there is no reason to think we won't be fighting at the front," he said.
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"There is no point making big predictions, saying we will definitely win. Ferrari will be very strong, McLaren maybe as well if they can maintain their speed from Monaco."
"It will not be an easy weekend, but I certainly think we can be fighting for the win."
McLaren won at Silverstone last year with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, while team mate Kimi Raikkonen stormed from 12th on the grid to third.
The Mercedes-powered team have yet to win this season after 10 victories in 2005 but believe they have narrowed the gap with Renault and Ferrari.
"The British Grand Prix is one I really want to win," said Raikkonen, who retired unhappily in Monaco after a nose-to-tail battle with Alonso.
Home hopes rest with Honda's Jenson Button and David Coulthard, the last Briton to win at Silverstone with McLaren in 2000 and fresh from handing Red Bull their first Formula One podium finish in Monaco.
Neither are likely to win, with Button again sounding gloomy about his chances after 107 starts without a victory.
In deference to the World Cup soccer finals in Germany, the race timetable has been brought forward to avoid any clash with key games and big screens set up around the circuit to allow fans to watch England's opening match against Paraguay after qualifying on Saturday.
Germany open the tournament on Friday.
"I'm really looking forward to that," said Schumacher, a keen player who visited his compatriots in training last month.
"I'm hoping there will be a fantastic atmosphere, I'm excited about seeing lots of great matches and most of all I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the German team."
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