Motor racing-Hamilton ponders Japan rain dance

By Alastair Himmer

FUJI, Japan, Oct 10 (Reuters) - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton prayed on Friday for another downpour to help tighten his grip on the Formula One title race in Japan this weekend.

The Briton, who holds a seven-point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa with three races left, splashed to victory in torrential rain at Fuji last year and said he would gladly see the heavens open again.

"I'll probably do the rain dance," Hamilton joked after clocking the third fastest time in free practice. "It's a great track in the wet.

"Maybe if it rains we'll have a bigger gap but I think otherwise it's going to be very close."

Rain is threatened for Saturday's qualifying, although forecasts for Sunday's race predict clear weather.

Hamilton is recognised as being more confident in the wet than Brazilian Massa, who needs a slice of luck to prevent the 23-year-old becoming Formula One's youngest world champion.

The Briton, who allowed Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen to wipe out a 17-point deficit in the final two races last year to pinch the title by a single point, still sounded a note of caution despite being quicker than Massa in practice.