18/10/2004

Grand Prix of Brazil - Preview

Jarno Trulli - Race Driver Car Number 16
"I am confident that we will enjoy a better race weekend in Brazil. Suzuka was my first grand prix for Panasonic Toyota Racing and with any debut comes the added pressure of having to learn new things most notably getting to grips with a new car in race conditions. The main hindrance in Japan was the lack of running we completed prior to qualifying and the race so I hope we can get straight down to business at Interlagos on Friday. We have to get the TF104B set up properly in the practice sessions to give us a chance in the race itself. I always enjoy racing at technically demanding tracks and Interlagos is certainly a challenge with a mix of high and low speed sections and most notably its anti-clockwise nature."

Ricardo Zonta - Race Driver Car Number 17
"As a Brazilian it's obviously very important for me to drive in my home grand prix in Interlagos. Every driver always wants to race in the country where they were born and in this case it's on a track where I have raced so many times. That gives me a good feeling about this weekend's race although we have to wait and see how the TF104B performs as Interlagos is a bumpy track and we've struggled over bumps so far this year. But in Shanghai I was fighting for eighth place on a circuit that I didn't know. The Sao Paulo track by contrast is one I know very well. So if we do a good job and we can have the same speed as we had in Shanghai it could be quite fun."

Ryan Briscoe - Third Driver Car Number 38
"I've raced round Interlagos once before in Formula 3000. It's an exciting circuit so I'm really looking forward to driving round there in an F1 car for the first time. We expect Interlagos to be dirty on the first day which makes tyre choice difficult for the whole team so my input's definitely going to be important. I've been enjoying my role as third driver for Panasonic Toyota Racing in the last few races of this season. I was a bit unfortunate in Japan when the weather meant I didn't get to do any laps but the other four have been good. I've gained a lot of experience and learned a lot from the team."

Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal
"Overviewing the seventeen races that have led up to this weekend's season finale in Brazil it is fair to say that all of us at Panasonic Toyota Racing are disappointed and frustrated that we have not been able to get better results in 2004. However this is the end of only our third season. We are continuing to make our way up from the bottom and the improvements that we make on a race-by-race basis can only lead us up the grid in the future. We brought Jarno Trulli into the race team in Japan and this marks the next important step in our 2005 preparations. Jarno will gain further experience with our team at Interlagos this weekend and I am sure that he will give us more valuable feedback. Ricardo Zonta will partner Jarno and as a Brazilian Ricardo will relish racing in his home grand prix in front of the local fans. With the usual full effort from the team and drivers I just hope we can finally translate all of our motivation and hard work into points on Sunday afternoon. Last season's chaotic Brazilian GP certainly proved that anything is possible."