Toyota F1 2003 European GP Flashback

By Toyota F1 Media
May 26 2004

  
European 2003 Flashback
 
From the initial Friday practice session at the Nürburgring last season, it was apparent that Panasonic Toyota Racing's TF103 race cars were highly competitive around the German track. Being effectively a home race for the team, everyone was pushing for a strong result in front of the Toyota employees watching from the grandstands and nobody was disappointed with initial outcome in practice and qualifying.

Da MattaThe team enjoyed a highly successful one-hour practice on Friday morning, with Panis setting the quickest time (1m31.197s) after 22 laps of the Nürburgring track. Cristiano da Matta, driving the new track layout for the first time, was 9th (1m32.492s), completing 26 laps.

The excellent start was ruined by the weather on Friday afternoon as Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta took to the track for their qualifying runs with heavy rain pouring on to the Nürburgring. Having topped free practice, Panis was forced to contend with the track at its wettest and managed to complete his lap in 17th position. Da Matta started his out-lap on slick tyres hopeful of a semi-dry run, but was forced to return to the pits as his slick tyres could not handle the ever-worsening track conditions.

Saturday morning saw a resurgence to form with Panis setting the fastest time in the morning sessions (1m31.181s). Da Matta was 7th quickest over the two sessions (1m32.057s), underlining the competitive package the team had brought from its Cologne-based factory.

A double top-ten qualifying result was the perfect reward for the team's efforts. Olivier Panis was 7th and Cristiano da Matta 10th. Panis was ultimately pleased with his lap, claiming his 6th top-ten grid slot of the 2003 season at that point. On his first race weekend at the revised 5.141km Nürburgring, Da Matta was highly satisfied to secure his third consecutive top ten starting position after 10th in Monaco and 9th in Canada.

The European Grand Prix ended in bitter disappointment, though, with a double retirement from the 60-lap race. Olivier Panis' race ended on lap 37 after his brakes locked causing his TF103 to spin and stall. Cristiano da Matta retired with four laps of the race remaining after a sudden drop in oil pressure caused his engine to fail.

Race results aside, the team had an encouraging weekend, topping the free practice sessions on Friday and Saturday and qualifying both TF103s in the top 10 for the second consecutive race.

What the drivers said:

Cristiano da Matta:
"Not a good afternoon for us unfortunately. I made a reasonable start, retaining my tenth place and everything ran smoothly until about a third of the way through the race, when my front end plate was damaged. This meant an unscheduled pit stop to change the nose, but the guys did an outstanding job to get me back out quickly. In the end, my retirement from the race was down to an engine failure, most likely to be the result of an oil leak, or something similar. We'll have to look closely into this to find the exact cause."

Olivier Panis:
"I was in eighth place by lap ten and gaining on Alonso, but then the front brakes locked up, which made it impossible to turn, causing the car to spin. Luckily, I kept the engine going, but it happened again later in the race and on this occasion the engine stalled and I was unable to continue. We don't yet know what the reason was. It goes without saying that I am extremely disappointed with the outcome of today's race. I was so sure we could pick up a good points finish after such competitiveness in practice and second qualifying. The team has done a good job and I am very positive about the next race in Magny-Cours - my home grand prix."

Back to the present:

The team will be hoping to capitalise on the four points scored in Monaco last weekend, as it takes to the German track for the 7th round of the 2004 championship. Panasonic Toyota Racing currently resides in 7th place, just one point from McLaren-Mercedes, whilst the double points haul in Monte Carlo lifts Da Matta to 11th in the drivers' championship and Panis to 14th.
 
 

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