SAO PAULO (Brazil), March 30: Ralf Schumacher, seeking his second straight win for Williams, blitzed the track record in Saturday’s final free practice before qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Ralf clocked one minute 13.543 seconds — comfortably inside his brother Michael’s 2001 pole position of 1:13.780 and the Ferrari driver’s race lap record of 1:14.755.

The BMW-powered Williams is expected to go well in Brazil, with Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya leading for half the race last year and Ralf heading a team one-two in Malaysia two weeks ago.

Michael, four times the world champion, was fifth fastest after setting the quickest time in the morning’s first session in the new F2002 car.

He will still be a favourite to start on pole position again in Brazil, but it is likely to be close, with the teams on Michelin tyres filling the top four places.

McLaren’s David Coulthard, winner at Interlagos last year, was right up with the pace as second quickest in 1:13.563.

The Renaults of Briton Jenson Button, looking increasingly confident after a grim 2001, and Italian Jarno Trulli were also inside last year’s pole time.

Michael Schumacher has won on three occasions in Brazil and leads the championship after two races, two points clear of Montoya in the Williams.

Montoya was seventh quickest, just ahead of Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello, at the end of a session briefly halted when the Sauber of Brazilian rookie Felipe Massa was stranded on the circuit.

Times after Saturday’s free practice:

1. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams one minute 13.543 seconds; 2. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1:13.563; 3. Jenson Button (Britain) Renault 1:13.686; 4. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:13.714; 5. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:13.837; 6. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:13.882; 7. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:14.141; 8. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Ferrari 1:14.189; 9. Mika Salo (Finland) Toyota 1:14.484; 10. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) Sauber 1:14.508; 11. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:15.131; 12. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan 1:15.246; 13. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Sauber 1:15.270; 14. Olivier Panis (France) BAR 1:15.298; 15. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) Jaguar 1:15.305; 16. Enrique Bernoldi (Brazil) Arrows 1:15.415; 17. Eddie Irvine (Britain) Jaguar 1:15.534; 18. Takuma Sato (Japan) Jordan 1:15.641; 19. Allan McNish (Britain) Toyota 1:15.892; 20. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Arrows 1:15.933; 21. Mark Webber (Australia) Minardi 1:16.294; 22. Alex Yoong (Malaysia) Minardi 1:16.727.—Reuters