Massa aiming for third home win to back Alonso

Felipe Massa is aiming to secure his third emotional triumph on home soil in Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix to help Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso win the drivers' title for a third time. The local hero, who won at Interlagos in both 2006 and 2008, has set his sights on winning to round off a season of recovery with a memorable victory. Spaniard Alonso needs to outscore Red Bull rival and defending champion German Sebastian Vettel by 14 points to clinch the title -- a goal that requires him to deliver at least a podium finish in Sunday's race. Speaking at the circuit on Thursday, on the eve of opening free practice, Massa said: "Try to win for the third time - that is the right direction to think of... Just think of the victory. "Here is a very special race for me and I am going to try and win and hopefully Fernando can finish second and without any problems win the championship." Massa endured a difficult first half of the year, but raised his game after the summer break to secure a one-year contract extension for 2013. He added: "It was a very difficult season compared to others. I was struggling in some races, and in some other races I was not struggling. "There was always something happening and in some races I couldn't finish in the right position. "But after August everything was better. We were able to put together the right results in every race, and I think it was a very good second part of the season for me and a very good preparation for next year."