Panasonic Toyota Racing has started the British Grand Prix weekend in fine style with all three TF105 chassis figuring in the top seven after Friday free practice.

Silverstone has always been one of the fastest tracks on the F1 calendar and the 5.141km circuit provides a very different challenge to that of Magny-Cours seven days ago.

The Friday pace was set by West McLaren Mercedes third driver Pedro de la Rosa, who lapped in 1m18.530s, as against the 1m18.964s time recorded by Ricardo Zonta with the first of the Toyota TF105s.

“It was good to be back in the cockpit after my break at the French Grand Prix, where Olivier Panis drove in front of his home supporters,” Zonta said. “Silverstone is a satisfying track to drive, very challenging, and you need to have the car well set up. It was a good day and we also found some tyres that were quick and consistent over longer runs.”

Ralf Schumacher set the sixth fastest time of the day, with a lap in 1m20.602s, marginally quicker than Jarno Trulli’s 1m20.816s.

“It’s looking quite good,” Ralf said. “We had a decent test here a few weeks ago and I had a successful day today in terms of getting through my programme with the tyres and the car set-up, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the weekend.”

Trulli, who had a quick spin, was a little more circumspect: “I also got through my programme,” he said, “but this will be a tough grand prix and I think that overall it could be quite similar to the French Grand Prix last weekend. That means that if we can get another strong finish I think it will be a good result.”

Lining up between Zonta and the race drivers, Jenson Button (1m20.211s) was third quickest for Lucky Strike BAR Honda, ahead McLaren race drivers Juan Pablo Montoya (1m20.252s) and Kimi Raikkonen (1m20.384s).

Technical Director, Chassis, Mike Gascoyne, explained: “We had a good morning but you are never sure what everyone else is doing on a Friday, so you have to view things with a degree of caution. But, saying that, everything went well, we moved in the right direction and we seem to be competitive. I think we are capable of challenging for podiums at most of the races. “