Schumacher out to mark milestone race

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Michael Schumacher admits it will be a proud moment for him to take part in his 300th Grand Prix at Spa and is aiming to mark the landmark race.

The German will become just the second driver in history after former Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello to reach the triple century milestone when the season resumes next weekend.
However, the event actually marks Schumacher's 300th GP weekend appearance rather than race start owing to the fact he failed to take the start of the 1996 French GP after his Ferrari engine expired on the formation lap when due to start on pole.
The 43-year-old has a special affinity for Spa having won at the famous Belgian circuit on a record six occasions and achieved many of his most notable career landmarks there - including his debut F1 race and win along with his record seventh championship - and acknowledges the uncanny nature of the timing of the latest milestone.
"Spa is like my living room," Schumacher admitted. "For me, it's clearly the number one race track in the world. It's uncanny how I always seem to have special moments there - my debut, my first win, a world championship victory and many great races.
"The fact that I will also take part in my 300th Grand Prix at Spa was somehow almost inevitable and we will have to celebrate it in the right way."
It will be the second successive year that the Mercedes driver has celebrated a notable career landmark at Spa, the 20th anniversary of Schumacher's stunning F1 debut there having coincided with last August's race.
Despite having had to start at the back of the grid 12 months ago after his car's wheel fell off at the start of qualifying and pitched him into the barriers, Schumacher produced a storming drive to finish fifth.
And on the back of a series of poor races for races for Mercedes prior to the summer break, he is eyeing a similar result this time around.
"I'm proud to be just the second driver in the history of the sport to reach this milestone and there's no question that we are looking to have a particularly nice weekend," he added.
"We delivered a good performance in Spa last year; I'll be doing everything possible to drive a strong race."