15/06/2003

Canadian Grand Prix - Race Report

Panasonic Toyota Racing driver Olivier Panis scored his first point of the 2003 F1 World Championship campaign when he finished eighth in the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve today.

The two Toyota TF103s ran strongly in the points from the first lap when Panis and team mate Cristiano da Matta came round in sixth and seventh places. They then spent most of the race locked together until Da Matta emerged ahead of Panis after his second pit stop on lap 45. Sadly though there was heartbreak for the Brazilian when he succumbed to a suspected suspension problem with just a few laps remaining. Panis was on hand to pick up a point for the team.

The Frenchman said: "I think this eighth place was a very good result for the team. Everyone has done a great job this weekend although you have to have some sympathy for Cristiano because he drove a strong race and to go out almost in sight of the flag is always tough to take. But for me scoring my first championship point of the season is a great relief and I hope just the first step."

Da Matta hiding his disappointment well explained: "We're not exactly sure what happened we need to wait until the car is back but I think it is something to do with the suspension. As I came out of the previous corner the car was moving around a lot and I had to pull off the circuit. Until then I had been really strong. I spent the first two stints behind Olivier but once I got ahead of him I was able to go a little quicker and started to close the gap to Webber. I was having fun but unfortunately it was not to be."

Montreal was a superb race with a tense battle for the lead between Ralf and Michael Schumacher. Schumacher Junior's BMW Williams led at the start but his brother passed him at the first round of pit stops. That proved decisive and Scuderia Marlboro Ferrari took its fourth win in five races to move to the head of both the drivers and constructors championships.

Juan Montoya spun his Williams early in the race costing himself 10s but was back on his team mate's tail by the end. Another fine drive by Fernando Alonso for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team put the Spaniard right in contention with the four cars taking the chequered flag covered by just over 4s as Alonso eased off out of the final corner.

Further down Rubens Barrichello beat Kimi Raikkonen to fifth place the world championship leader having started from the pitlane after spinning off in qualifying. The Finn was alone in adopting a one-stop strategy and his sixth place means that he is now three points behind Michael Schumacher in the championship.

Team principal Ove Andersson was happy with Toyota's weekend. "The whole team has performed well in difficult circumstances all the way through he said. Given the competitiveness at the front of the grid we can be well satisfied with a point. It might not sound much but believe me points are difficult to earn in F1 today. It was good for Olivier that he has finally registered on the scoreboard and Cristiano took his disappointment well after a strong race. From here we must aim at further progress."