BMW Sauber F1's Nick Heidfeld will compete at the German Grand Prix this weekend, the latest round in the 2009 FIA F1 World Championship, with a special helm🌌et design.

Heidfeld, who has struggled this year wi🌠th the woefully uncompetitive BMW Sauber F1.09, often opts for a 'make over' for his home race and this year's event at the ඣNurburgring won't be any exception.

Heidfeld will also be hoping that the series of mechanical improvements the team is taking to the event, as well asಞ a further developed version of the🍌 double-decker diffuser, will allow him to challenge a bit further up the field.

Indeed while he has scored points this season, taking a second place finish at the rain-affected Malaysian GP and a seventh in Spain, that is as good as it has got and last time out the British Grand 𓂃Prix was disastrous - as he only qualified 15th and was only 15th in the race itself too.

Nick though is still looking forward to racing at home and says that it will give him a bo🔯ost: "A lot of fans and fan club members tr💦aditionally come to my home race. That is something I really enjoy and it gives me an extra shot of motivation," he confirmed.

"I will also once again be lining up for my home race with a special helmet design. Tღhis year it has been created by a fan on my website, and he will present me with the helmet before the start of practice on Friday.

"It goes without saying that our verdict on the♊ season at the half-way poꦕint is anything but positive, especially when you compare our results so far with our aims going into the season.

"Of course I hope we will make improvem❀ents, and that's what everybody in the team is working to achieve."

Asked about the circuit itself, it is clear Heidfeld is a fan of both the new Nu🅷rburgring and the legendary Nordschleife.

"I have many happy memories of the Nurburgring," he continued. "I went𝓀 there a lot with my parents when I was a child and the 'Ring is only an hour away from my home town of M?nchengladbach.

"In winter we went sledging on the Hohe Acht slopes, I learnt to ride a bicycle at the Nurburgring and this was also where I �🥃�sat in a kart for the first time - with a tyre and a blanket wedged behind my back so that I could reach the pedals.

"Since then I've competed in races at the 'Ring💙 in Formula Ford, Formula 3 and Formula 3000ꦉ and celebrated many victories there.

"My best Nurburgring result in F1 was in 2005 when I took pole position and finished second in the race itse🌺lf."

Meanwhile Robert Kubica is also hoping that the BMW Sauber F1 team can show somꦦe progress at the 'Ring - although unlike his team-mate, he doesn't actually like the 5.148 kilometre circuit very much.

"The Nurburgring is the team's home race. Even though this season has not gone well for us so far, there will be a lot of BMW Sauber 🌟F1 Team fans there crossing their fingers for us. This is just the right time to put in a strong performance and record a good result," added the Pole.

"However, I have to admit that the track itself is not one of my favourites. Having said that🥂, it does have a big variety of corners and also opportunities to overtake. The best of these is in the first corner, where you can take various different ඣlines.

"So I expect we'll see more passing moves agai🍨n at thꦗe Nurburgring and hopefully enjoy an exciting race."