"We are on the steepest curve, and it's good for us because maybe at the beginning of the year we were wondering where the light at the end of the tunnel was. But we stuck to the programme."Coulthard has diligently stuck to his. He feels that form has earned him Hakkinen's respect and that together they are carrying the cause of Formula One's most progressive team.Hill and Ferrari's Michael Schumacher may, of course, restore familiar order in today's qualifying session, but Coulthard's optimism is unshakable "We are the most improved team," he said. Yesterday it was ippon all the way at the European Championships here for three of Britain's Olympic medal hopefuls: featherweight Sharon Rendle, bantamweight Nigel Donohue and lightweight Danny Kingston. Rendle, the former world and European featherweight champion, now 29, showed she is as tough as ever. Marina Kouvriguina of Russia tried to attack positively but was flattened with ogoshi (major hip throw).

Chantelle van Gestel of the Netherlands was knocked down for a small score, then thrown on to her side for another part-score, and finally arm-locked. Tomorrow she meets Almudena Munoz, the Spanish Olympic champion, in the semi-final. Danny Kingston, the 23-year-old lightweight, and one of Britain's best prospects for an Olympic medal from the men's team, had a relatively easy draw but made the most of it. Vsevolod Zeleni of Latvia was pinned securely, and Gil Offer of Israel and Davor Vlaskovac of Bosnia were both thoroughly shaken up and then thrown with the classic uchimata (inner thigh throw). A win over Ukraine's Ilia Tchimtchouri in the semi-final tomorrow would give Kingston just the confidence boost he needs for Atlanta.The bantamweight Nigel Donohue was also on the mat, defending the European title he won in Birmingham last year - and he looked every inch the champion.