Olivier Panis takes over for Toyota at Jerez

3rd fastest on Fri
By Huw Alban (15/03/03)
March 15 2003

Olivier Panis took over from Cristiano da Matta today in Jerez, and assisted Toyota in preparing for the Brazilian Grand Prix in a little over three weeks time. The Jerez test concludes tomorrow.

Unfortunately Olivier was unable to repeat Cristiano's feat of being fastest, but he managed 65 laps and recorded a respectable 3rd fastest time.

"Well, the least I can say is that we had a productive morning, working on various suspension options and also on engine braking," Panis said to Toyota-F1.com yesterday (Friday) afternoon. "We started some tyre work this afternoon already looking ahead at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Basically everything went according to plan. We just stopped slightly earlier than expected towards the end of the day as the engine reached the end of its life. Generally we were happy with what we found today as the car responded well to the various changes we were trying."

Toyota continue their programme on the final day today (Saturday), as will all Michelin shod teams, using an artificially wet circuit in order to prepare for the unpredictable weather conditions in Malaysia. An important day for the team.

Friday times from Jerez:

1 T. Sato BAR 1.18.711 87 laps
2 R. Schumacher Williams 1.18.739 67
3 O. Panis Toyota 1.18.980 65
4 A. Wurz McLaren 1.19.557 98
5 P. De la Rosa McLaren 1.19.668 102