21/07/2002

French Grand Prix - Race Round-Up

The French Grand Prix at Magny Cours was a disappointing afternoon for Panasonic Toyota Racing as the team suffered its first engine failures in a race of the season.

Both Mika Salo and Allan McNish made good starts from their 16th and 17th grid positions and came round 11th and 12th at the end of the opening lap. Unfortunately for Salo though his race ended prematurely after 48 of the 72 scheduled laps.

"I had quite a good start and was soon up to 11th " Salo explained "but then I realised early in the race that the engine was losing power and was not running really cleanly. Unfortunately I had to retire because it finally blew up for a reason we now need to identify. I am disappointed but it is our very first engine failure in a race and I am confident that this is a one-off."

The race saw a high attrition rate with only 11 cars classified as finishers. McNish was last of those (through completing the necessary 90% of the race distance) but was not running at the end as his TF102 chassis stopped seven laps before the chequered flag.

"Today's race was generally okay " he said "But we struggled continuously with lack of grip. I had a problem on my first pit-stop when the left front wheel would not go on. I then suffered with quite a lot understeer on my second set of tyres. The third set was better and I was making up ground when my car had an engine failure. It is really unfortunate as I was up to 9th at that time. I am sorry that the oil my engine left on the track caused Kimi Raikkonen to miss out on what would have been his first F1 victory but at the same time I am pleased for Michael getting his 5th title."

Technical Co-ordinator Keizo Takahashi said of the day's events: "It was not a good day for us with another double retirement. Both TF102's experienced engine failures and we now have to clear this high barrier and must check the details of these failures before the next Grand Prix in Hockenheim only 7 days away."

As McNish pointed out young West McLaren Mercedes driver Kimi Raikkonen was on course to score his first Grand Prix win with just five laps to go until he locked a tyre on Allan's engine oil which allowed Michael Schumacher through into the lead to claim the victory which secured his record-equalising 5th world championship title. David Coulthard finished third.

The BMW Williams F1 Team had to be content with fourth and fifth places. Jenson Button scored one point by coming 6th for Mild Seven Renault F1.