German GP Saturday qualifying: Top ten for Toyota
By Andrew Hooper
August 12 2003
| German GP Saturday - Team Comments |
| For the third time this season, Panasonic Toyota Racing has qualified both of its TF103s in the top 10. Olivier Panis will line up in seventh position for tomorrow's German Grand Prix, two places ahead of his Brazilian team-mate Cristiano da Matta, who posted the ninth quickest time. This result equals the team's best joint qualifying effort that from June's Canadian Grand Prix. |
Cristiano da Matta Car
Number 21 Session Classification: 9th Lap Time: 1m16.550s, +1.383s from pole Starting position: 6th Chassis: TF103/04 "Despite claiming another top ten grid position, I am really not happy with my qualifying lap today. The car definitely had a much better lap time in it, but I lost around half-a-second at the last corner. I was simply pushing a bit too hard and made a mistake. The car felt good and we improved the handling through free practice and again in the warm-up session, so it is frustrating not to be a bit higher up on the grid tomorrow, although we should be in reasonable shape in the race." |
Olivier Panis Car
Number 20 Session Classification: 7th Lap Time: 1m16.034s, +0.867s from pole Starting position: 11th Chassis: TF103/08 "It is good to see that we are continuing our good form with another top ten qualifying position. I am very pleased with my lap and everyone has worked well this weekend. I think we have developed a good stability within the team, which is being reflected in these positive results. This morning, we worked very well to develop the car and to find a good balance. Cristiano also did a good job and with both of us in the top ten things are looking good for the race tomorrow." |
Keizo Takahashi - General Manager Car Design and Development "Another
very encouraging qualifying session for Panasonic Toyota Racing and I am
overjoyed that we managed to get two cars in the top ten for the third
time this season. Of course our new engine specification played a part in
our qualifying results, but I would like to extend our thanks to Michelin
for their competitive tyres and also to Olivier and Cristiano for a job
well done. Tomorrow, we expect a very hot day but we are fully prepared to
push hard in the race."
|
| Weather: Hot and sunny.
Temperatures: Track 50°C, Air 33°C. T-car: TF103/07 set up for Olivier Panis. Spare Chassis: TF103/02 Weekend at a Glance Friday practice (dry track) Da Matta P6, 1m16.109s, 28 laps Panis P10, 1m16.602s, 21 laps Friday Qualifying (dry track) Panis P10, 1m15.471s (+1.044s) Da Matta P15, 1m16.450s (+2.023s) Saturday practice 1 (dry track) Panis P8, 1m16.560s, 21 laps Da Matta P16, 1m17.662s, 17 laps Saturday practice 2 (dry track) Panis P11 1m17.169s, 11 laps Da Matta P13, 1m17.426s, 23 laps Warm-Up (dry track) Panis P3, 1m15.758s, 5 laps Da Matta P7, 1m16.341s, 4 laps |

Car
Number 21
Car
Number 20
"Another
very encouraging qualifying session for Panasonic Toyota Racing and I am
overjoyed that we managed to get two cars in the top ten for the third
time this season. Of course our new engine specification played a part in
our qualifying results, but I would like to extend our thanks to Michelin
for their competitive tyres and also to Olivier and Cristiano for a job
well done. Tomorrow, we expect a very hot day but we are fully prepared to
push hard in the race."