Will winter test data lead to a top finish?

The fourth race of 2009 takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit in the Kingdom of Bahrain, just one week after the completion of the Chinese GP. This race is always a fight against heat, strong winds and dust—usually a war of attrition. The three long straights on this circuit mean that overtaking is never out of the question. Stability under braking and acceleration out of the corners will be the key for turning in quick lap times. Drivers will, however, need to take care in how they pace themselves to avoid excessive damage to their tires. Panasonic Toyota Racing used this circuit to conduct ongoing car development tests throughout the winter, so you can be sure that the team is looking for a top finish here. The team has traditionally performed well on this track—both cars finished in the top 10 last year. If the cars deliver all the potential to Jarno and Timo, then this race will certainly become a highlight for Panasonic Toyota Racing during the early stage of the 2009 season.