Text - Panasonic Toyota Racing: British Grand Prix - First Qualifying Session

With a new aerodynamic package aboard the TF103s this weekend, the Panasonic Toyota Racing team impressed in first qualifying for the British Grand Prix with Olivier Panis setting the fifth fastest time and Cristiano da Matta scoring the team a double top ten result, placing his TF103 in tenth position.

Olivier Panis - Car Number 20, Chassis TF103/08
Session Classification: 5th
Lap Time: 1m19.959s +0.485s from pole
Starting position: 15th
"I am very pleased with this result. We expected to go quite well here, because the car suits this kind of high-speed track. We had a productive test in Barcelona last week and we have some new aero parts on the car for this race, which look promising. I love this circuit and Cristiano had a good test here at the beginning of June, so I am in a very positive frame of mind for the rest of the weekend. Michelin has again supplied us with some competitive tyres for this race, which helps us even further."

Cristiano da Matta - Car Number 21, Chassis TF103/07
Session Classification: 10th
Lap Time: 1m20.765s +1.291s from pole
Starting Position: 14th
"As a team, we appear to be looking quite strong here this weekend, but my lap time wasn't all that great. Of course, tenth place is a good result, but I think there is more to come from the car and we have to make the overall balance a bit better. We should be encouraged by getting two cars in the top ten. I am happy with the progress we have made over the last couple of races, and if we continue in this way, I think we are looking in good form the rest of the weekend."

Gustav Brunner - Chief Designer
"Two cars in the top ten is really a fantastic achievement. We have a new aerodynamic package here this weekend and it appears our TF103 suits the Silverstone track well. We have been continually improving as a team over the past few races, getting better in every department. The drivers are also performing exceptionally well, so as a unit we are making big progress. Although it is only the opening day of the British Grand Prix, I think our 5th and tenth positions today reflect this improvement, and we hope it continues for the rest of the weekend with points as an obvious target come Sunday afternoon."

Weather: Cloudy but generally dry
T-Car: TF103/04 set up for Cristiano da Matta Spare Chassis: TF103/02

Friday practice (mostly dry track)
Panis P5, 1m20.693s, 20 laps
Da Matta P10, 1m21.027s, 23 laps