02/08/2003

German Grand Prix Second Qualifying Report

For the third time this season Panasonic Toyota Racing qualified both its TF103 cars in the top 10 for tomorrow's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.

Olivier Panis's 1m16.034s lap was just 0.87s away from the pole position time and good enough for seventh place. The Frenchman was beaten only by Ferrari Williams one McLaren-Mercedes and one Renault the established 'Big Four' teams in the constructors' championship.

Cristiano da Matta meanwhile made a mistake on his flying lap but pulled off one of the 'saves' of the season as he cranked on the opposite lock out of the final corner managing to prevent his TF103 from a serious off-track excursion. Despite losing 0.3s to Panis in that final sector as he crossed the finish line the Brazilian still managed ninth fastest time (1m16.550s).

Panis said: "The track temperature was very hot out there almost more like Malaysia and that has a bearing on the way the car performs. It is gratifying that we are managing to qualify well whatever the conditions and it is a good reflection on the team. It will be a tough race tomorrow both physically and in terms of the demands placed on the car but we are well placed to challenge for points again."

Da Matta said: "I was giving it everything and it was a shame about the wobble out of the last corner. Without that I would have beaten the second Renault and lined up right behind Olivier. But there is no doubt we are making progress which is encouraging for everyone."

For the third time in five races the front row of the grid belonged exclusively to the BMW Williams F1 Team with Juan Pablo Montoya (1m15.167s) just 0.02s clear of team mate Ralf Schumacher.

The second row of the grid belongs to the Silverstone front row men Rubens Barrichello in the first of the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro cars and the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team's Jarno Trulli. Championship challenger Kimi Raikkonen had to content himself with fifth fastest time (1m15.874s) but still lines up one place clear of main rival Michael Schumacher (1m15.898s).

Team principal Ove Andersson said: "We have never underestimated the task of getting to the top in Formula 1 and we still don't. But it is good for everyone involved in the programme to be able to contemplate starting the second race in succession within a couple of tenths of Michael Schumacher and Ferrari the sport's established standard setters. Obviously our tyre supplier is doing a strong job but it is exciting for everyone to be able to see the fruits of their hard work."