14.05.2007

NO PLACE LIKE HOME

With the Grand Prix season heading to Europe for the first time this year, Panasonic Toyota Racing was back on familiar territory thanks to the return of the team's motorhome to the paddock.

In the first three races, the team 'lived' in pit buildings and temporary offices as Formula 1 motorhomes do not make the journey out of Europe. But there really is no place like home and the team's engineers and other staff were happy to be back in their trusty motorhome.

And that's not to mention the media - for the first time this year, our regular media catering service was in action and the team's hospitality staff were certainly kept busy.

The drivers also enjoy a bit more luxury when the motorhome is in the paddock, with a private room upstairs to relax and prepare in as well as a peaceful corner downstairs where they can spend time with their managers and guests away from the prying eyes of a busy paddock.

New for the Spanish Grand Prix was a state-of-the-art Viera flat screen TV from title sponsors Panasonic in the PR motorhome which, with a giant screen, made sure none of our guests miss any of the action.

NEWS FROM OUR RIVALS

Michael Schumacher returned to Formula 1 at the Spanish Grand Prix - only as a spectator of course!

The seven-time world champion retired from the sport at the end of last season and managed to stay away for the first three races of the year. However, the first European race proved too much of a temptation and he was back on familiar ground as a guest of Ferrari.

So, how is retirement for Michael? "It is certainly very obvious that there is a life after Formula 1," he told a press conference on Friday. "After being here 16 years, it has been an interesting experience not to wake up every morning and think about racing - just thinking about other things like the family and so on. It has been very exciting."

RACE REPORT

Panasonic Toyota Racing's 100% points-scoring record in 2007 was ended in the Spanish Grand Prix after both Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli retired from round four of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship in Barcelona.
Jarno started from sixth on the grid after a fantastic lap to claim the team's best qualifying result of the season so far but Ralf was left with work to do after traffic in qualifying left him down in 17th.
Unfortunately, Jarno did not get the chance to take advantage of his qualifying performance as he suffered a fuel pressure problem lining up for the start. He was forced to take the restart from the pit lane.
Ralf made a clean start but at turn 10 he was hit from behind by Alexander Wurz's Williams-Toyota, forcing him to pit to check for damage. "I was a bit unlucky," Ralf said. "Alex crashed into me but that's the way it goes sometimes. The start was a bit messy but from where I was, 17th, that is to be expected."
Jarno's race lasted only eight laps before he pulled into the pits to retire, with his fuel pressure problems to blame for the team's first retirement of the season.
Ralf continued and put in a spirited drive to move up the field and set some competitive lap times. However, he too did not make the end of the race. The nose of his car worked loose, causing him to retire in the pits on lap 42.
The race was won by Ferrari's Felipe Massa, who took his second consecutive victory after beating McLaren-Mercedes rookie Lewis Hamilton by 6.7 seconds. Hamilton, on 30 points, now leads the championship by two points from McLaren-Mercedes team-mate Fernando Alonso, with Massa a point further adrift on 27.