 Cristiano
da Matta - Car Number 16
"I enjoy racing at the Monaco Grand Prix, and I just missed out on the
points on my debut there in 2003. Realistically, though, we will struggle to
improve on that performance this year. In theory, Monaco is a difficult
circuit for us because it's a bumpy track and one that requires lots of
downforce, and these are two areas where we still need to find improvements.
As I live in Monaco, I can usually go straight home on a scooter after my
day's work, so that's a nice feeling and a refreshing change from the other
races on the calendar."
 Olivier
Panis - Car Number 17
"To be honest, I don't think Monaco is the perfect circuit for us right
now, as our package is not fantastic at low speeds, but I have always
enjoyed the grand prix. Apart from winning in 1996, I have also had some
very good results there. That's why I'm still quite positive and staying
focused on the job in hand.
Sometimes something happens at Monaco, which can
move you up the field, so we will be looking to capitalise if it does. The
most important thing about driving at Monaco is to be confident with the car
you have but what you need to do is stay concentrated for the whole race and
certainly not make any mistakes."
 Ricard Zonta- Car Number 38
"I quite enjoy the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. It's a nice place to
race, but the track's not easy. I've only raced around the streets once in
Formula One, back in 2000. You don't feel like you're driving an F1 car
around there purely because we don't reach such high speeds as other tracks.
Like Cristiano and many other drivers I live
in Monaco. Normally, it is a very quiet place to live with little activity,
but at race time it gets very busy. Hopefully the new paddock should make it
easier than normal for the pit crews to work."
 Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal
"The Monaco Grand Prix is unique in terms of the technical and
operational challenge it offers. This year, we will benefit from new pit
facilities, which promise to make life easier all round. The mere nature of
the tight and twisty Monaco circuit means that a driver's input is greater
than at any other track on the calendar. The cars will run maximum downforce
and must cope with the bumpy street course. From Panasonic Toyota Racing's
view, we will have to look at extracting all we can from the TF104s, give
the drivers as much track time as possible and ensure that as a team we make
no mistakes which could affect our performance. Put simply, we have to be
reliable, get two cars to the finish and see if we can pick anything up at
the end of the weekend."
 Mike Gascoyne - Technical Director Chassis
"On paper, Monaco is not a circuit that suits Toyota's TF104 race cars,
as it is a slow-speed, maximum downforce track. Last year we finished the
race in ninth position, just out of the points and only behind the top four
teams from 2003.
We are always pushing hard to improve our
overall performance on a daily basis, and our main goal is to show this
continuous improvement during each race weekend. We have just completed an
encouraging four-day test at Circuit Paul Ricard and I strongly believe that
we are as well prepared as we can be to get the maximum from the car in
Monaco this weekend."
Weekend in numbers:
7049.392 Distance in kilometres which the TF104s have completed during race
weekends so far in 2004
1026 Number of official starters in the history of the Monaco Grand Prix
574 Total number of laps which Olivier Panis, Cristiano da Matta and Ricardo
Zonta completed at Paul Ricard last week in preparation for Monaco
483 Number of classified finishers in the history of the Monaco GP, equating
to 47% of the total starters
260.520 Distance in kilometres of the Monaco Grand Prix, making it the
shortest race of the year
78 Number of laps which make up the Monaco GP
51 Number of Monaco GPs held since 1950, the 2004 event will be the 51st
9 Highest position that Panasonic Toyota Racing have finished the Monaco GP
(Da Matta, 2003)
4 Number of TF104s which Panasonic Toyota Racing is taking to Monaco
3.340 Length of a lap around the Principality – the shortest lap of the year
2 Highest position that Panasonic Toyota Racing has finished a Monaco GP
timed session (McNish, Thursday practice, 2002)
1 Olivier Panis remains one of just seven drivers to have won the Monaco GP
in the last 20 years (1996) |
