16/05/2002

Paul Ricard Test 15-17 May / Day 2

Mika Salo today continued its Grand Prix preparation at a joint test session at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. Salo completed 57 laps of the shorter 4.15km track layout concentrating on tyre work for next week's Monaco GP.

"We tested Michelin tyres today in preparation for next week's race. We have been on this shorter version of the track today and some of the slow corners are similar to those in Monaco. It has been a productive day and testing with other teams it is the first time we have tested at our home circuit with so much rubber down on the track."

As part of a plan aimed at bringing together the corporation's worldwide motorsport activities Toyota CART driver Toranosuke Takagi was given the chance to drive the TF102 today. The one-time Formula 1 driver completed an impressive 107 laps during the session.

Tora Takagi
"The last time I drove in F1 was two years' ago. For me this was an exciting experience and it is incredible just how much an F1 technology has changed in that time. I want to say thanks to Toyota for giving me chance to drive today. It was good fun and very different to CART."

Allan McNish will take over from Mika Salo for the final day of testing tomorrow. Brazilian Toyota CART driver Cristiano da Matta will be given the same experience as Takagi and will drive the TF102 tomorrow.