09/03/2003

Australian Grand Prix Race report

Panasonic Toyota Racing endured a disappointing start to the new Grand Prix season when both cars retired from the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. However the team remains upbeat after displaying the true potential of its two race drivers and the TF103 car over the weekend.

In a confusing race that featured varying track conditions and two Safety Car periods following accidents Olivier Panis suffered a recurrence of a fuel pressure problem that first became apparent in one of the pre-race practice sessions and ultimately led to the Frenchman being stranded out on the circuit after 32 laps. Up until then he had regularly featured in points-scoring positions running as high as 5th place at one point.

Cristiano da Matta meanwhile spun out on lap eight when he moved to the right of two cars directly ahead and then missed his braking point into Turn 3. The Brazilian who started in 16th position had made his way up to 11th spot.

Panis explained: gThe car definitely been quick all weekend and we were doing very well in the race until a problem with the fuel pressure that we have experienced sometimes during the weekend. We made a good decision to start the race on slick tyres and I am sure we missed out on a podium today but I want to remain positive. The team adapted to the rule changes well and personally I got used to them very quickly. We have shown our potential this weekend and I am confident we will get results soon.h

Brazilian reigning CART champion Da Matta explained the premature end to his F1 debut like this: gI came on the inside of two cars and the brake markers were on the outside so when I saw the brake marker I thought it was the hundred metre but it was actually the fifty and when I realised it was way too late. I started the race on dry tyres and I struggled for the first couple of laps but I started to gain momentum and I was passing guys ahead of me. The race was good fun while it lasted but it was nowhere near long enough for me. We have been really competitive this weekend and I know the car is quick so I am just looking forward to the next race.h

The race was won by West McLaren Mercedes driver David Coulthard who led a team 1-3 sandwiching BMW Williams F1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya who spun out of the lead in Turn 2 with 10 laps to go.

Five times world champion Michael Schumacher also led the race but had to pit after receiving an orange and black flag indicating that there was a mechanical problem with his car. He recovered to finish fourth for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro with less than one second covering the first to third placed cars.

Italian Jarno Trulli finished fifth in the first of the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team cars ahead of Heinz-Harald Frentzenfs Sauber Petronas. The new scoring system brought into effect this year means that points are now scored down to eighth place which meant two points for Spaniard Fernando Alonso in the second Renault and one for Ralf Schumacher in the second Williams-BMW.

Both Panasonic Toyota Racing drivers now head to the Jerez circuit in Spain for a test ahead of the championshipfs second round in Malaysia on March 23. Cristiano flies to Spain this evening and will test on Wednesday and Thursday before team-mate Olivier Panis takes over for the final two days of testing action.