With just four points separating McLaren's Mika Hakkinen from Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro driver Michael Schumacher going into the final round of this year's FIA Formula One World Drivers Championship in Suzuka, Japan, the race is guaranteed to be an exciting one.

Both the McLaren and Ferrari teams have been working flat out on a test and development during the long 5 week gap since the previous race in a bid to gain supremacy for this all important final event.

"We have been working on all the aspects of the car in order to put ourselves in the best possible shape for this race. In order to stand a good chance of taking the title I need to take the win in Suzuka and that's what I will be going for, nothing less," said Schumacher who won last year's race from the front row of the grid and also won at Suzuka from pole in 1995.

The high speed Suzuka track with its challenging combination of ultra-fast corners and slower chicanes demands a well balanced car at all speeds. It's a popular track amongst the drivers as one of the few 'drivers' tracks left on the calendar.

Schumacher added, "I enjoy the circuit very much. It's got some great corners. The team have been working flat out ever since the Luxembourg Grand Prix to improve the car and our chances of success. We definitely have made some improvements since the last race so I hope it will be enough to put us ahead."

The weather often plays a vital role in the outcome of this race. When it rains hard puddles make the track particularly difficult to drive - a talent for which Schumacher has already shown his skills in the past. Intermittent showers have also seen fortunes change rapidly as the teams and drivers make snap decisions about pit stops and tyre changes which can win or lose them the race. The Ferrari team along with Schumacher himself have also proved themselves to be the strongest of the season in such decisions.

Even if Michael Schumacher wins this race, he will need Hakkinen to finish third or lower to ensure his third World Championship title. He will be looking towards his team-mate Eddie Irvine to help out with that scenario.

Few will forget the excellent job the Irvine did last year fighting Schumacher's rear guard action as he went on to win the race - just as he did in Luxembourg at the start of the last race.

"With the title in the balance I will, of course, be doing everything I can to help Michael towards the title. Suzuka is a circuit I made my F1 debut at and which I know well from my days in F3000 in Japan. It's a track where a good knowledge of the track can certainly help a lot, so I am confident that I can be running as quick as anyone and be in a strong position to help out Michael if he needs it," explains Irvine.

Another strong point in the favor of the Ferrari team this season has been their incredible reliability. But for a gearbox problem for Irvine in Silverstone and Michael's engine trouble in the first race of the season , the car's have scored a 100 percent finishing record other than accidents.

"You can never discount dropping out of a race because of a mechanical failure, but after the finishing record and the great preparation by the mechanics that we have had this year, it's certainly not as much of a worry as it has been in the past." states Schumacher. "Whatever the outcome I hope it will be a good clean race. It would be a shame to have the title decided by a mechanical failure or an accident."

Whatever happens it will certainly be a cliff hanger which will have the whole world on the edge of their seat - hopefully until the checkered flag comes out at the end of the 53 laps which , in dry conditions, should take around 90 minutes.

Although all the attention will be focussed on the drivers championship , the keenly fought constructors' championship will also be decided in Suzuka. With a 15 point deficit behind their McLaren rivals, Ferrari will virtually need the unlikely result of a non-finish by either of the McLaren drivers to clinch first place. However, the fight for third place between the Williams, Benetton and Jordan teams is separated by just four points, so it promises to be just as exciting for the other places in the points.