By Karl King
October 21 2005

As F1 gears up to switch to V8 engines for 2006, the wiser teams are testing early to gain an advantage on their engine development. Oliver Panis has told how Panasonic Toyota are "making good progress" with their engine development for a new era in racing.

Using our new hybrid car, which Toyota has called the TF105.5 in a Press Release, we've starting racking up the mileage in two separate tests.

F1 veteran Panis has been with the team for his second week testing the 2006-spec V8, and ran two days with the unfamiliar engine this week at Monza.

“We did almost 80 laps on the first day and I wouldn't have thought that kind of mileage was possible yet, especially at a track as demanding for engines as Monza.

“The computer simulations showed us that a V8 would be around 5.5s per lap slower than a V10 here, and that's just how it worked out."

It didn't go quite as planned however, as the new engine failed sending the Frenchman into the kitty litter.

“I found myself going backwards at 320kph,” he said.

“That's not so good for the heart rate!"

Thankfully Olivier did not hit anything ensuring no damage was done to his car, or to himself!