Following his Barcelona disappointment, Kimi Raikkonen is aiming to get his World Championship challenge firmly back on track this weekend, at a circuit on which he has already enjoyed success, having taken victory in 2005.

The Finn makes no secret of the fact that, like many of his F1 rivals, he loves the unique challenge posed by the legendary street circuit. Indeed, the Ferrari driver is convinced that Monaco appeals to race fans and drivers alike.

"If I had to follow Formula One as a spectator and had to choose one race, I would have no doubt," said the Finn, looking ahead to this weekend's big race, "I would go to Monte Carlo.

"It is the most important amongst all the Grands Prix," he continued, "with an extraordinary combination of the emotions during the race, the particularity of the place and the prestige, surrounding the event. It must be as wonderful to watch this race, as it is to participate in it. Not so much as far as the race is concerned but more in terms of the challenge: driving fast in a F1 car through these streets is biggest challenge of them all for sure. I love challenges: the more challenging they are the more I'm attracted. I really can't wait to race this GP."

Raikkonen first raced an F1 car in the Principality in 2001, finishing tenth in the Sauber. In 2003 he finished second to Juan Pablo Montoya, and other than his win in 2005, these are the only times the Finn has made it to the finish line. That said, he has wonderful memories of that famous victory with McLaren. "I will never forget my success in 2005, in a race, which I think was one of my most beautiful ones.

"This will be the seventh time I am going to race here and the first time with Ferrari," he continues. "As usual we will have lots of work to do, but I hope I can also pass some time with my friends and family."

Having been out-qualified by his teammate three times this year, the Melbourne winner is under no illusions as to his first big task this weekend, qualifying at the front of the grid.

"It is fundamental to have a good lap and I will give it all," he says. "Until now the qualifyings did not work out as I wanted it to be, but we did a lot of work to improve the situation. It would be wonderful to win with a red car and it would be much easier if I could start from the front row."

"Every time I get into the car my knowledge of the tyres improves," he adds. "They are really different to the ones I used during the last year. As far I as understand by reading the papers, also Fernando is in a similar situation. The test sessions in France went really well and now I feel even better with the F2007. Obviously we don't know what our competitors have done so we will see things a bit clearer only on Thursday, during the free practice sessions.

"There are four drivers competing for the top spot in the championship," he continues, "but there's no particular driver I am concentrated on. I will go to every race with the same attitude: trying to give my best and collecting as many points as possible. After the test session in France I went back home, where I trained very hard: I'm ready for Monte Carlo."