03/08/2003

German Grand Prix - Race

Both Olivier Panis and Cristiano da Matta picked up world championship points in today's German Grand Prix after storming drives to 5th and 6th places respectively. This twelfth round of the 2003 season marks Panasonic Toyota Racing's first ever two-car points finish and sees the team gain a combined seven points jumping from ninth to sixth position in the constructors' championship.

Olivier Panis - Car Number 20
Classification: 5th +1 lap (from race winner)
Starting Position: 7th
Chassis: TF103/08
"It was a completely trouble-free race for me today. The three-stop strategy we had was the right choice and my car was absolutely perfect. The team did a great job all weekend as did Michelin to provide us with such competitive tyres. Cristiano also performed very well and to have two cars in the top six is such a fantastic result. We have worked so hard throughout this season and have demonstrated that we have a competitive package. Heading into the three-week break Panasonic Toyota Racing has seven more points and this makes me determined to push for more of the same in Hungary."

Cristiano da Matta - Car Number 21
Classification: 6th +1 lap (from race winner)
Starting Position: 9th
Chassis: TF103/04
"Everything ran smoothly for me in the race today. The car felt good and I got the most out of it. With Olivier getting fifth position this is the first time that we have finished a race with both cars in points-scoring positions and it is a brilliant result for all the team's efforts. It shows that we are making progress which is the most important thing and we are getting closer and closer. We have to keep this level of performance up and continue to work hard. Then the results will keep coming naturally."

Ove Andersson - Team Principal
"Today's result is a great achievement by the entire team and two cars in the top six is the proof that hard work pays good dividends. We have made steady progress in recent races and we have now showed everyone that we have what it takes to get a strong result. Both Olivier and Cristiano drove exceptionally well and the seven points that we have competitively won today means that the Panasonic Toyota Racing team is now sixth in the constructors' championship - a position we will try our utmost to defend over the remaining four races of the season."

Weather: Hot and sunny.
Temperatures: Track 51°C Air 36°C.
T-car: TF103/07 set up for Olivier Panis. Spare Chassis: TF103/02
Weekend at a Glance
Friday practice (dry track)
Da Matta P6 1m16.109s 28 laps
Panis P10 1m16.602s 21 laps

Friday Qualifying (dry track)
Panis P10 1m15.471s (+1.044s)
Da Matta P15 1m16.450s (+2.023s)

Saturday practice 1 (dry track)
Panis P8 1m16.560s 21 laps
Da Matta P16 1m17.662s 17 laps

Saturday practice 2 (dry track)
Panis P11 1m17.169s 11 laps
Da Matta P13 1m17.426s 23 laps

Warm-Up (dry track)
Panis P3 1m15.758s 5 laps
Da Matta P7 1m16.341s 4 laps

Saturday Qualifying (dry track)
Panis P7 1m16.034s (+0.867s)
Da Matta P9 1m16.550s (+1.383s)