Panasonic Toyota Racing is looking ahead to a strong performance in the opening European round of the 2006 FIA Formula 1 World Championship after qualifying both cars in the top 10. Ralf Schumacher will start tomorrow's San Marino Grand Prix at Imola sixth on the grid, with team mate Jarno Trulli ninth.

Schumacher was competitive throughout the three-stage qualifying format, third in the first session, sixth in the second and then sixth again in the all-important top 10 shoot-out with a 1m23.772s lap.

"Before the start of the weekend we didn't really know what to expect but looking back after qualifying I think we could have been even quicker," Ralf explained. "Imola, characteristically, has not been one of our better circuits but this year's car has a completely different rear end compared to what we used to have, and this certainly helps a lot. Bridgestone has also worked hard with us on the tyres and we have been in good shape since the start of the weekend. I am optimistic that we have a good strategy for tomorrow."

Team mate Trulli, meanwhile, was fifth in the first session, seventh in the second and then turned a 1m24.172s lap for his ninth position. Ultimately he also thought it could have been better and was less than impressed with seven times champion Michael Schumacher.

"I'm sure I could have been quicker on my second run but unfortunately Michael came out of the pits and held me up. I don't think it was fair behaviour, especially from a driver of his calibre. In the first two sessions the car handled well, with a good balance, and I am confident that we can race well tomorrow."

Michael Schumacher (1m22.785s) took his second pole position of the year for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, with the Lucky Strike Hondas of Jenson Button (1m22.988s) and Rubens Barrichello (1m23.242s) second and third. Felipe Massa starts fourth with the second Ferrari (1m23.702s), ahead of reigning champion Fernando Alonso's Mild Seven Renault (1m23.709s). Splitting the two Toyota TF106s are the Team McLaren Mercedes cars of Juan Pablo Montoya (1m24.021s) and Kimi Raikkonen (1m24.158s), with Mark Webber's Williams-Cosworth (1m24.795s) completing the top 10.

Toyota's Chief Engineer Race and Test Dieter Gass said: "Ralf had a good afternoon's work and I think we can be happy with sixth. We are confident that the tyre choice we have made has not only given us a good level of qualifying performance but will also be strong in the race. We were obviously a little disappointed that Jarno lost time on his lap but still think that we are in a position to fight strongly tomorrow for good results with both cars."