Page 2 of 6

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:22 am
by Ed
Bahrain Grand Prix - Free Practice Round-Up

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
1st Practice: 15th, 1m 35.036s (+1.389s), 22 laps
2nd Practice: 3rd, 1m 33.616s (+0.277s), 37 laps

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
1st Practice: 17th, 1m 35.333s (+1.686s), 20 laps
2nd Practice: 8th, 1m 33.764s (+0.425s), 37 laps

Panasonic Toyota Racing began preparations for the Bahrain Grand Prix with two full practice sessions today. After the wild weather of the early races of 2009, it was sunny at the Bahrain International Circuit, with air temperatures ranging 32-37 degrees C and track from 43-57 degrees C. Toyota's Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock had busy days collecting data for Saturday and Sunday. Both drivers used only the medium Bridgestone tyre compound in the morning but they sampled both that and the super soft in the afternoon. The team will now analyse the information to finalise set-up for qualifying and the race.

Jarno Trulli
"We collected a lot of data here during our winter tests at this circuit but the conditions today were very different. So we had to change some of our set-up in order to suit the car to these temperatures, which are much hotter. There is also quite a lot more sliding around than we had in the winter but I guess that's the same for everyone. We spent the day going through our usual programme of tyre testing and set-up work. We still need to find a bit more driveability in the car but it's not a bad start to the weekend."

Timo Glock
"During our winter tests at this circuit we had a good, consistent pace but so far today I've found the car quite hard to drive. The lap times aren't bad but I've been struggling for balance. So we'll have to work overnight to sort out our direction for tomorrow and to get the car back to where it should be. If we can do that then I'm sure we can keep up our strong start to the year."

Dieter Gass, Chief Engineer Race and Test
"Today was a very good day for us overall. Even though we mainly had fine conditions during winter testing here, there is still a significant difference in temperature. So we had to reassess some of the items we had already tried. We have some updates in aerodynamics and brake cooling here and we ran through our programme without issues. The tyre behaviour certainly seems less critical than in the last few races. So this is a very good baseline for another strong showing on Sunday."

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:23 pm
by Ed
Bahrain Grand Prix - Qualifying Round-Up
Saturday 25 April 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
3rd Practice: 9th, 1m 33.397s (+0.792s), 19 laps
1st Qualifying: 2nd, 1m 32.779s (+0.099s), 7 laps
2nd Qualifying: 3rd, 1m 32.671s (+0.197s), 6 laps
3rd Qualifying: 1st, 1m 33.431s (fastest), 7 laps

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
3rd Practice: 1st, 1m 32.605s (fastest), 16 laps
1st Qualifying: 7th, 1m 33.165s (+0.485s), 7 laps
2nd Qualifying: 2nd, 1m 32.613s (+0.139s), 6 laps
3rd Qualifying: 2nd, 1m 33.712s (+0.281s), 7 laps

Panasonic Toyota Racing is celebrating its best ever qualifying performance after Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock locked out the front row for tomorrow's Bahrain Grand Prix. On a blisteringly hot and sunny day at the Bahrain International Circuit, air temperatures ranged from 35-38�C while the track was 47-51�C. Timo had set the fastest time during the morning practice session but he also suffered an electronics glitch. This afternoon he and Jarno did their first runs in Q1 on the medium compound tyre before switching to the super soft for the rest of the afternoon. They both sailed into Q3 and put together great laps. Jarno took pole with Timo alongside him on P2. Toyota will now look to make the most of this perfect start to the weekend in tomorrow's race.

Jarno Trulli
"I'm thrilled to be back on pole again. This weekend has gone well and it's great to be starting at the front tomorrow. In fact this afternoon didn't go quite as smoothly as yesterday because I had a bit of a problem with my brakes during the session. That's a bit of a worry for the race so we'll have to look into it overnight. Still, I'm confident for tomorrow because our race pace has been good this weekend and we've been looking after the tyres well. The first three races haven't really worked out for me but I hope we can now change that. We tested here over the winter and this track has gone well for our cars in the past. To have both cars in the top two shows we did a very good job. I'd like to dedicate this pole both to my team, who have worked so hard, and to the people of my home region Abruzzo, who suffered a disastrous earthquake this month."

Timo Glock
"It's brilliant that we've been able to take the top two places today. We had a problem on my car yesterday and we were struggling but the team did a good job to change things for today. We were quickest in the session this morning, though I lost a bit of running with an electronics glitch. But qualifying went extremely smoothly. The wind changed a bit and it was a struggle to get used to the prime tyres in Q1. After that I felt more comfortable in Q2 but in Q3 I made a small error after turn 8 so I couldn't catch Jarno. A big thank you to all the engineers and mechanics because it's been a hard start to the season for everyone and this is a great result for us."

Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis
"We're obviously delighted with today's result. We have been competitive throughout the weekend so we were targeting pole and things went as expected - though the gap to the cars behind us is a bit bigger than we anticipated. Both drivers did a great job and from the very first lap in Q1 we could see the pace was there so we just had to manage it over the sessions. Tomorrow's race will be very interesting because the tyre situation generates huge differences between the two specs and it opens windows for very different strategies. We already saw yesterday that our pace over one lap and our consistency over long runs has been good. This morning went well except for a small electronics problem on Timo's car. Congratulations to the engineers and mechanics who fixed it in time. Now we have to convert this perfect start into a result tomorrow."

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:23 pm
by Ed
Bahrain Grand Prix - Race Round-Up
Sunday 26 April 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
Grid: 1st
Race Classification: 3rd (+9.170s)
Pit Stop Laps: 12, 37

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
Grid: 2nd
Race Classification: 7th (+42.880s)
Pit Stop Laps: 11, 33

Panasonic Toyota Racing is celebrating its third podium of 2009 after Jarno Trulli took third place at today's Bahrain Grand Prix. On another sweltering day, Jarno started on pole with Timo alongside him on P2, both on the super soft tyre. Both cars made good starts but Timo edged in front into the first corner. The pair were closely matched early on, building up a cushion over the third placed car as Jarno set the race's fastest lap. Timo pitted on lap 11 and Jarno took advantage of his extra lap of fuel, jumping ahead at his first stop. Both drivers swapped to the medium compound tyre and Jarno ran second after the first round of stops. But Timo struggled for grip on his heavy fuel load and he brought his second stop forward to lap 33, fuelling to the end on the super soft tyre. Jarno also took the super soft tyres when he pitted on lap 37, battling hard en route to the podium. Timo added another two valuable points with 7th. Toyota was already celebrating in Bahrain as third
driver Kamui Kobayashi wrapped up the GP2 Asia championship on Saturday.

Jarno Trulli
"I'm a little disappointed to be honest because I thought we had a chance to take Toyota's first win this weekend. But it was a hard race. I was slightly slower into the first corner than Timo so I spent the first stint following him. I knew I was going longer than him but it was still difficult. Then we went for a very long second stint on the hard tyres. It was really hard fighting with the other cars and eventually Sebastian took the position after my last stop. After that he was on the hard tyres and I was on the soft. I was pushing him because I was quicker but there was no way to overtake. Still, I have to thank the engineers and mechanics because they did a very good job and it's good to be on the podium again."

Timo Glock
"That was a difficult race. I made a promising start and I was surprised to get ahead of Jarno from the dirty side. Then we were the first car to pit, which was already critical. But when I went out on the prime tyres I don't know how many seconds I lost on the first two laps because I was really struggling for grip. I couldn't get any heat into the tyres and I really lost the race in the second stint. I was sliding around and it was clear that the speed was better on the options. In the end I was chasing Kimi but there was no chance to overtake. Still, two points are better than none and we will now look for more in Spain."

Tadashi Yamashina - Team Principal
"We expected more from today but I'm happy with third place and I'd like to thank Jarno for his efforts. Timo struggled for stability on the prime tyre so that's where he lost ground but he still brought home two points. This is our third podium of the year so I'd like to thank everyone involved with the team, both here in Bahrain and at the factory, along with our sponsors. When we have conditions like these we must now aim for the centre of the podium, starting at the next race in Barcelona."

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:26 pm
by Ed
Bahrain Grand Prix Debrief - Q+A with Jarno Trulli
Tuesday 28 April 2009

Were you happy with third place in the race?
To be honest, I was disappointed because qualifying went so well and expectations were high that we could challenge for Toyota's first victory. I expected more than third place but it wasn't to be unfortunately, although I did set the fastest lap of the race which shows the potential of the car.

Is that disappointment a sign of the progress the team has made?
Absolutely. To be disappointed with third place makes such a difference compared to the previous few seasons. Last year my third place at Magny-Cours was a really special moment and the season before it was pretty much impossible to get near the podium so you can see that we have made a really big step this year. We have three podiums already from four races and that is the same number we had from the previous three seasons combined.

How did it feel to be back on pole position?
That was a great feeling on Saturday. It was not an easy qualifying session for me because we had a little issue with the brakes but I knew I had car which was quick enough to challenge for pole position so I never gave up. It was great for the team and personally it was a good feeling to be back on pole position.

What happened in the race?
I lost a position to Timo at the start because of a small oil spillage which meant the engine didn't pull away as well as it should have. Obviously it would have been better to be leading but I had quite a dramatic battle with Lewis (Hamilton); we were wheel to wheel so it was exciting and I kept second place. The car was feeling pretty good and I set the fastest lap of the race on lap 10. But at my first stop we went with the medium tyres and on those I was just defending against cars lighter than me on the super soft tyres. The other guys at the front waited until the final stint to use the medium tyres and in hindsight that was probably the right decision. I had Sebastian (Vettel) right behind me and at the final stop he got past. We went on to the super soft tyres and I was faster than him; I pushed as hard as I could but just couldn't overtake. It didn't work out for us but we still did a good race and finished on the podium.

From three podiums in three seasons to three in four races; what has changed?
Everyone in the team has worked so hard on this car and now we are seeing the rewards. In Formula 1 you have to push as hard as you can at all times and we have never given up fighting, so our improvement is really down to hard work from everyone. But you need experience as well and after seven seasons in Formula 1, Toyota is much more experienced so we understand more how to make the car quick and get the best out of it.

Can the team continue to be one of the front-runners when the European season begins?
I believe we have a good chance to be competitive all season but of course we have to keep on working hard, then time will tell. The car is really competitive right now and we are focused on what we are doing so I'm sure we can continue to fight at the front. Naturally, those teams who have historically been successful, but have struggled so far this season, are always capable of improving so we have to continue our development and never give up pushing. I have faith in my team.

On the podium you highlighted your support for the victims of the Abruzzo earthquake, how is the campaign going?
It is going very well. As I'm sure many people know, I have set up a website, www.abruzzonelcuore.org, to raise money for the people who have suffered in this dramatic event and already we have raised more than Euro17,000 so I am really pleased. We have had a lot of support from other drivers who have offered items to auction and I will keep pushing through the season to do what I can to help. The GPDA are officially supporting the project and we've had a lot of support from throughout Formula 1.

Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 10:27 pm
by Ed
Spanish Grand Prix - Preview
Monday 4 May 2009

Date: Sunday 10 May, 2pm CET
Round: 5 of 17
Venue: Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona
Distance: 4.655km (66 laps)
Lap record: 1min 21.670 (2008)
History: The Spanish Grand Prix was first run in 1913 as a sports car race but made its Formula 1 World Championship debut in 1951 at the Pedralbes track in Barcelona. Since then the race has visited Jarama, Montjuich Park and Jerez. The Circuit de Catalunya hosts the race for the 19th consecutive time this weekend.

Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona this weekend for the start of the European season. Following the flyaway races which started the season, Toyota is third in the Constructors' Championship having claimed an impressive three podium finishes in four Grands Prix. Jarno Trulli recorded pole position, fastest lap and third place in the Bahrain Grand Prix while Timo Glock maintained his 100% points-scoring record in 2009 with seventh place. That put both Toyota drivers into the top five of the Drivers' Championship. The team has enjoyed podium success in Spain before, with Jarno finishing third in 2005 - one of two podiums he has scored in this race - while last year he was eighth on a day when Timo was 11th. Both drivers have extensive recent experience of the Circuit de Catalunya, having completed over 500 laps between them during four days of testing in March.

Jarno Trulli (Car 9): "It's good to be coming back to Europe again after the long-haul races as this makes things a little easier for everyone. The opening races of the season have shown the potential we have in our new car; to get pole position and the fastest race lap in Bahrain was a good achievement which gives us great encouragement. We'll see how it works out in Barcelona but we have to be optimistic after our strong performances so far. We tested in Barcelona before the season but I have to admit it's unusual to be preparing for the race having not driven at the track for a couple of months. In the past we have generally tested there just before the race so everything was quite predictable, but it could be different this time. I am enjoying this season because we are consistently fighting at the front so I am really looking forward to the Spanish Grand Prix."

Timo Glock (Car 10): "Barcelona is one of the tracks I know best after all the testing and racing I've done there over the years and I'm feeling optimistic going into the Spanish Grand Prix. I have scored points in all the races so far - only two other drivers have done that - and I certainly expect to continue that run this weekend. But I hope to score a few more than in Bahrain; it was disappointing only to finish seventh after starting from the front row however the potential of the car is clear for everyone to see. That motivates everyone to keep pushing hard because we can see there is the possibility for some great results. We have an upgrade to the car this weekend so hopefully that can bring something extra but we will have to wait and see how the other teams develop as well."

John Howett, President: "We have made a successful start to our season but there is no doubt we want more; we feel we are close to our first victory and this is our clear target for the remainder of the year. We narrowly missed out on winning in Bahrain but by starting from pole position and setting the fastest lap, we showed we are right on the pace and we are working hard to bring it about soon. Thanks to the fantastic job done by the team over the winter, our car has been one of the very fastest so far this season and we have some aerodynamic upgrades in Spain which will bring more performance. We have an aggressive development programme for the whole season so I'm confident we will be in good shape."

Today, Tomorrow, Toyota This year, as part of a global Toyota campaign, the TF109s will feature messages used by local Toyota distributors to thank them for their continuing support of Panasonic Toyota Racing. This weekend, 'Today, Tomorrow, Toyota' is inspired by Toyota in Europe.

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 1:46 am
by Ed
Spanish Grand Prix - Free Practice Round-Up
Friday 8 May 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
1st Practice: 2nd, 1m 22.154s (+0.355s), 30 laps
2nd Practice: 19th, 1m 23.623s (+2.035s), 47 laps

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
1st Practice: 8th, 1m 22.828s (+1.029s), 29 laps
2nd Practice: 18th, 1m 23.360s (+1.772s), 46 laps

Panasonic Toyota Racing got the European leg of the 2009 Formula 1 season underway with practice for the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona today. Air temperatures reached a high of 25°C and track temperatures 43°C as Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock completed two busy 90-minute free practice sessions. For this race, the TF109 has a revised aerodynamic package and those changes needed to be evaluated on track today. As well as testing these improvements, including a striking new engine cover, both drivers also worked on the two compounds of Bridgestone Potenza tyre in use this weekend. The morning session ended with Jarno setting the second fastest time but the afternoon session was even busier and by the end of the day both drivers had each completed more than a race distance.

Jarno Trulli
"We went through our normal Friday routine of testing tyres and set-up as we get ready for qualifying tomorrow. We also worked to understand what strategy to take in terms of tyres and everything. The tyre testing went reasonably well but obviously we need to analyse the data before we make any decisions. The car is not perfect and it needs to be a bit more balanced before I am happy with it. However, I think the track conditions will change for qualifying so I am not too worried. We have to wait and see what happens tomorrow morning."

Timo Glock
"It was not a very good day for me today to be honest. I was struggling quite a bit with the tyre behaviour in both practice sessions and it is really tricky to understand what the problem was. We have to analyse the results from today and work hard to make an improvement for qualifying tomorrow. I'm not happy with how things have gone today but we won't give up; we will do our best to find a solution."

Dieter Gass, Chief Engineer Race and Test
"Even though I am not too worried about the timing sheets, we have to say it was hard work today. Thanks to an enormous effort from everyone in Cologne, we brought quite a significant aero update for this weekend and with no in-season testing, we had to evaluate it all today. We did a lot of laps and made several comparison runs to get as much information as possible. Obviously you don't have as much time to concentrate on these parts as you do in testing so that makes it quite difficult. As well as evaluating the upgrades, we did quite a lot of tests, mainly on aero, brakes and tyres. We got some interesting results which we will analyse tonight and try to find the best compromise for tomorrow."

Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 12:17 am
by Ed
Spanish Grand Prix - Qualifying Round-Up
Saturday 9 May 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
3rd Practice: 6th, 1m 21.256s (+0.703s), 23 laps
1st Qualifying: 15th, 1m 21.189s (+0.705s), 10 laps
2nd Qualifying: 9th, 1m 20.420s (+0.466s), 7 laps
3rd Qualifying: 7th, 1m 21.254s (+0.727s), 8 laps

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
3rd Practice: 8th, 1m 21.377s (+0.824s), 26 laps
1st Qualifying: 8th, 1m 20.877s (+0.393s), 10 laps
2nd Qualifying: 3rd, 1m 20.107s (+0.153s), 7 laps
3rd Qualifying: 6th, 1m 21.247s (+0.720s), 8 laps

Panasonic Toyota Racing will line up with both cars inside the top eight for the Spanish Grand Prix after a closely-fought qualifying session at the Circuit de Catalunya today. Having fine-tuned the set-up of the TF109 overnight and in final practice, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock took to the track on a sunny day with a slight breeze which saw track temperatures reach 41°C and air temperatures 21°C. The first qualifying session was typically hectic and, after starting with the hard Bridgestone Potenza, they made it into Q2 using the soft options. The battle to reach the top 10 was particularly tense but, again using the soft tyres, Jarno and Timo delivered on their last flying laps to progress, with Timo breaking into the top three. The final session saw three flying laps each on used soft tyres before one final flat-out run on a new set in the closing moments, which delivered promising grid positions for tomorrow's race.

Jarno Trulli
"It was an interesting and tough qualifying session for me today, particularly Q1 and Q2 when I struggled a little on a low fuel load but we made it into Q3 which is the main thing. In Q3 the grip was much better with more fuel on board and the car reacted well so I was able to push hard. At the end of the session I managed to put in a very good lap so I am pleased with my performance and I think seventh on the grid is pretty good considering the fuel I have on board. I believe my strategy is a good one so today's result was positive and I am optimistic for a good result in the race."

Timo Glock
"I am reasonably satisfied to be starting in the top six, especially as the practice sessions didn't go completely to plan. I struggled a bit in practice with car stability but we worked hard to improve that and qualifying sixth is not a bad result so we have to be happy with it. Obviously we hoped to be a bit closer to the front but other teams have made a step forward this weekend and the competition is really close. I've scored points in all the races so far this season and starting from the third row gives me a good opportunity to keep up that run. Finishing on the podium will not be easy but of course I'll be pushing as hard as possible and we'll see what happens in the race tomorrow."

Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis
"All in all our qualifying performance went well and we are reasonably satisfied to have both cars in the top eight. It has been a busy weekend for us because we had several new aerodynamic items to evaluate in practice and we have done a lot of laps in preparation for the race. Prior to qualifying the practice results didn't look fantastic for us but we have worked well to be competitive again when it mattered. In terms of track and tyre characteristics here, we are in a situation which clearly opens a window for two or three pit stops so the race will be very interesting and we will probably see some different strategies. We believe we are in good shape so I am feeling positive."

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 12:33 am
by Ed
Spanish Grand Prix - Race Round-Up
Sunday 10 May 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
Grid: 7th
Race Classification: DNF

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
Grid: 6th
Race Classification: 10th (+1 lap)
Pit Stop Laps: 17, 47

Panasonic Toyota Racing suffered an extremely disappointing Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunya. Hopes were high for another significant points haul when Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock lined up inside the top eight on the grid but they faded on the first lap. Jarno's race was short-lived due to an incident on the opening lap. As the cars fought for position from the start, he was forced wide and on to the grass at turn two, with his car spinning back onto the track. He was hit by Adrian Sutil, causing extensive damage and ending his race instantly. Timo's car was slow off the mark and he lost positions before the first corner, ending the first lap in eighth. His first pit stop came on lap 17 when he swapped his worn set of soft Bridgestone Potenza tyres for new ones. He fought hard to regain a place in the top eight and on lap 47 made his final pit stop, this time for hard tyres. He battled to the last lap to improve his position but, on a track where overtaking is difficult, missed out on points for the first time this season.

Jarno Trulli
"It was a very frustrating day for me because I was optimistic our strategy was good and I would be able to score a lot of points. Unfortunately my race did not last very long. I had a poor start because the engine didn't pull exactly as it should have done so I lost some positions and was right behind (Fernando) Alonso and (Nico) Rosberg going into the first corner. Rosberg went off then during the next corner he came back on to the track right next to me. I had to avoid him because he came back on really quickly. I had to steer off the track and lost control of the car over the grass, so I spun and someone hit me. But there is no point in looking back; now we have to focus on the next race when hopefully we can achieve a much better result."

Timo Glock
"I had a tough race. At the start the car didn't pull away; I don't know why but we have to analyse it because Jarno didn't have a great start either. He was in front of me into turn one and then I saw him spinning. I got through the incident but then I was behind Nico (Rosberg) and I couldn't get close enough to him in the slipstream; every time I was close my tyres started to go off. Even when I was in clear air today the car was not perfect so we have to look at what happened and try to come back stronger for the next races."

Tadashi Yamashina - Team Principal
"That was a disappointing race because we were very hopeful of scoring points and it did not happen. We expected a better performance this weekend but things have not worked out as we wanted. The whole team put in a big effort to bring a package of aerodynamic upgrades to this race but ultimately it has been a frustrating weekend so we have to look at the data when we get back to Cologne and understand how to improve. Also, it seemed both Jarno and Timo had some trouble at the start so we have to analyse this too. But we will not be disheartened; we will push really hard in the coming days and we will fight for a better result in Monaco."

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:16 pm
by Ed
Monaco Grand Prix - Preview
Monday 18 May 2009

Date: Sunday 24 May, 2pm CET
Round: 6 of 17
Venue: Monaco, Monte Carlo
Distance: 3.340km (78 laps)
Lap record: 1min 14.439 (2004)
History: The Monaco Grand Prix was first run in 1929 and hosted the Formula 1 World Championship in its inaugural 1950 season. It returned to the calendar in 1955 and has remained a fixture ever since.

Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the most glamorous and famous destination in Formula 1 for the Monaco Grand Prix on the twisty, barrier-lined streets of the Principality. The Monaco track is comfortably the shortest on the Formula 1 calendar but is nevertheless one of the toughest, with almost 4,000 gear changes during a race as the 18 corners arrive in quick succession. Jarno Trulli knows these streets better than most as the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix winner while Timo Glock has finished on the podium in the Principality in GP2. Last year's trip to Monaco was a disappointment for Toyota, with rain on race day leaving both cars outside the top 10 despite promising qualifying performances. The TF109s will be tuned for maximum downforce and the team is highly motivated to bounce back with a strong performance in Monaco after a disappointing Spanish Grand Prix saw Timo finish 10th and Jarno retire after a first-lap accident.

Jarno Trulli (Car 9): "Monaco is one of my favourite tracks in Formula 1; it is so challenging and the driver can really make a difference so this suits me well. It is always special to go to Monaco because the atmosphere is different to any other race and the circuit is unique. I know it's slow in terms of average speed but when you are driving it feels really fast as the barriers are so close. This means you have to be completely concentrated otherwise a small mistake can put you in the wall. I love the challenge of Monaco and I am usually really strong there, even if sometimes I've had a bit of bad luck and not had the results I deserved. Our car has been competitive all year but you can't compare Monaco to other circuits so you can never be sure what to expect. Obviously the race in Spain was one to forget but anyway I prefer to look forwards not back so I'm ready to fight hard again this weekend. I'm hoping for a strong result."

Timo Glock (Car 10): "Last year Monaco was a tricky race for us because of the changing weather but in general I really enjoy racing at street circuits, and this one in particular. I've had some strong performances in GP2 at Monaco and I know you have to be completely focused because it is so easy to make a mistake and ruin your race. It will be important to qualify well, as it always is in Monaco, because it's virtually impossible to overtake in the race unless the guy in front of you has a problem. Unfortunately the Spanish Grand Prix didn't go according to plan due to the problems on the first lap and it was very frustrating to miss the points for the first time this season. It will be interesting to experience how this season's car feels around Monaco because we have less downforce but more grip from the slick tyres. Generally our car has felt pretty good this season so there's no reason why we can't be competitive in Monaco."

Pascal Vasselon, Senior General Manager Chassis: "This year's Monaco Grand Prix is quite unusual because we don't have a fully dedicated aerodynamic package for this race, unlike previous seasons. In the past we have made major changes to the wings as well as adding flaps and winglets where possible to generate extra downforce. But this year things are a little bit different because the regulations have restricted what we can do to generate downforce, meaning we have quite a bit less this season. Therefore we have been chasing downforce at almost all tracks so Monaco is no longer unique in requiring us to do this. We will bring a few updates, as we aim to do at most races. We know the TF109 is fundamentally a very competitive car so we are looking forward to a strong weekend."

Today, Tomorrow, Toyota This year, as part of a global Toyota campaign, the TF109s will feature messages used by local Toyota distributors to thank them for their continuing support of Panasonic Toyota Racing. For the European races, 'Today, Tomorrow, Toyota' is inspired by Toyota in Europe.

Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 7:17 pm
by Ed
Monaco Grand Prix Preview Q+A - Jarno Trulli

Are you a fan of Monaco?
I am a big fan of Monaco and it is one of my favourite circuits, along with Spa-Francorchamps. It's a great circuit and a great challenge. There is really nothing like it and the driver probably makes more difference around Monaco than on any other track which always suits me. The atmosphere as well at Monaco is special because we are racing in the city so the fans are really close and you can feel the excitement. It is very enjoyable, although I must say I don't get many chances to experience the glamour of Monaco because it is a race weekend after all so there is lots of work to do.

What makes Monaco such a challenge?
The barriers are so close in Monaco you have absolutely no room for even the smallest error. At other tracks you can maybe run a little wide and not suffer, but in Monaco if you do that you are in the barriers so you need total concentration. Also, even though it is the slowest track we race on, it feels like one of the fastest because the barriers fly past you so quickly. You have to be completely focused to do a perfect lap and in the race it's quite challenging to stay so concentrated for the full distance, all the time knowing the smallest error will finish your race. I love this challenge and it really motivates me.

What do you need from the car to be successful in Monaco?
It is particularly important at this track to have a good feeling from the car so you feel confident it will respond exactly as you expect and there will be no surprises. With the barriers so nearby, there is no margin for error so you need a consistent and stable car, otherwise it is very difficult to push to the limit. I have a good feeling from our car this season so that shouldn't be a problem.

How about qualifying, is that more important in Monaco than anywhere else?
Qualifying is important at every track but Monaco, like Hungary, is a track where you simply must qualify at the front if you are to have a successful race. It is a true street circuit so it is far too narrow to attempt any real overtaking manoeuvres unless the car in front is a huge amount slower. This means track position is everything, which makes qualifying really important. But it's not just qualifying at the front that's important; you have to at least keep your position into the first corner otherwise all your effort in qualifying has been thrown away.

Can you explain what it's like to win the Monaco Grand Prix?
It's an amazing feeling and I have some wonderful memories of my victory there in 2004. To win from pole position in one of the toughest races in the world is a highlight of my career and I'll always remember that weekend with happiness. Of course, as a driver you want to win every race but Monaco more so than anywhere else.

Do you have a day off on Friday?
Friday at Monaco is certainly quieter than Friday at any other race but there are still things I need to do. There are a few PR things on my schedule and I will go to the track to discuss Thursday practice data with my engineers, but compared with a normal race weekend it's more relaxed, with a little free time to myself.

What are your predictions for this weekend?
It's always impossible to predict what will happen in Monaco. At this track anything is possible and you never know what will happen; that is why it's such a great event. It can be a very chaotic race and for sure it is not a normal race weekend. So far, Toyota has been competitive this season so we want to fight for the podium again, but you never know what to expect in Monaco.

Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 1:21 am
by Ed
Monaco Grand Prix - Free Practice Round-Up
Thursday 21 May 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
1st Practice: 20th, 1m 19.831s (+2.642s), 28 laps
2nd Practice: 14th, 1m 16.915s (+1.672s), 43 laps

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
1st Practice: 19th, 1m 19.698s (+2.509s), 24 laps
2nd Practice: 18th, 1m 17.207s (+1.964s), 45 laps

Panasonic Toyota Racing made an early start to practice for the sixth round of the 2009 Formula 1 World Championship on the streets of Monte Carlo today. According to tradition, practice for the Monaco Grand Prix takes place on Thursday so Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock took to the streets on a warm and sunny day to get their first taste of the TF109 on the twisty 3.340km track. Toyota worked on getting the maximum possible downforce from the TF109 as well as fine-tuning mechanical set-up. In the afternoon session, as track temperatures hit 44°C and air temperatures 26°C, the team switched its focus to the soft and super soft compound Bridgestone tyres. Jarno and Timo both completed busy and trouble-free sessions of evaluation. They will next hit the track for third practice on Saturday morning.

Jarno Trulli
"We did our normal work of setting up the car and trying to find a good balance. Of course the track surface was dirty this morning and that meant there wasn't much grip. In second practice I had some problems with the tyres and with degradation so we must look into that and work out a solution. We have plenty of work to do but here in Monaco we have an extra day to study the data and improve the set-up. We certainly won't be having a day off tomorrow."

Timo Glock
"That was not an easy day for me. We tried out several mechanical and aerodynamic set-ups in the morning and then in the afternoon we spent more time looking at the tyres. It's hard to say where we are at the moment. Overall, in terms of lap times it was not great but it's always tough to judge after practice. We need to work on getting better traction and getting the best out of the tyres, which was a bit of a challenge in the afternoon. It's tricky but we have a lot of information to look at and we'll make improvements before qualifying."

Dieter Gass, Chief Engineer Race and Test
"We had a busy day today, doing a lot of laps without major technical problems on the cars. We spent first practice mainly on set-up and assessing some new items we have for this race and in the second session we worked mainly on tyres. We seem to be struggling a bit with long-run consistency so that is something we have to look into. I am not too worried about the time sheets because we set our fastest lap times on the option tyres very early in the second session and we know there is significant circuit evolution here in Monaco. We will now analyse our data, not only tonight but also tomorrow, and come up with the best package we can for Saturday and Sunday."

Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 1:21 am
by Ed
Monaco Grand Prix - Qualifying Round-Up
Saturday 23 May 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
3rd Practice: 19th, 1m 16.810s (+1.646s), 26 laps
1st Qualifying: 19th, 1m 16.548s (+1.338s), 11 laps

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
3rd Practice: 17th, 1m 16.527s (+1.363s), 29 laps
1st Qualifying: 20th, 1m 16.788s (+1.578s), 12 laps

Panasonic Toyota Racing suffered a desperately disappointing qualifying session for the Monaco Grand Prix today. After a tough opening day of practice on Thursday, the team used the traditional 'day off' on Friday to study data and improve the set-up of the TF109s for Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock. However, the twisty Monaco streets proved to be not suited to the TF109 and, with traffic a factor, the qualifying result fell hugely short of expectations. Both drivers completed three runs during Q1, setting their fastest times on the super soft Bridgestone tyres.

Jarno Trulli
"It is extremely disappointing but especially because I was on a pretty good lap at the end of Q1 when I was blocked by another car in the final two corners. That would have been my quickest lap and I would have been easily in Q2. So I am angry about that but ultimately we haven't shown good enough performance this weekend."

Timo Glock
"We have to analyse and see where the problems are. We struggled from the first lap this weekend. The car didn't feel great but it didn't feel terrible, it was just that the pace clearly wasn't there. I pushed as hard as possible but it wasn't enough. Obviously I will do my best in the race tomorrow but from this position on the grid we don't have much hope."

Pascal Vasselon - Senior General Manager Chassis
"It has been a very difficult weekend, obviously. There is clearly something wrong on the car which we are looking at; we have to fix this. The race will be difficult from where we start but still we will keep on fighting."

Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 2:04 am
by Ed
Monaco Grand Prix - Race Round-Up
Sunday 24 May 2009

Jarno Trulli (Car 9, Chassis TF109-06)
Grid: 18th
Race Classification: 13th (+1 lap)
Pit Stop Laps: 49, 65

Timo Glock (Car 10, Chassis TF109-05)
Grid: Started from pit lane
Race Classification: 10th (+1 lap)
Pit Stop Laps: 57

Panasonic Toyota Racing left the Monaco Grand Prix empty-handed despite a valiant effort from Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock. Following yesterday's disappointing qualifying session, the team fully expected a challenging race and prepared accordingly. Timo started the race from the pit lane after modifications to the set-up of his TF109 and both began on very heavy fuel loads, using the soft Bridgestone Potenza tyres. They battled hard, however overtaking on the tight Monaco streets is extremely difficult and this restricted progress. By the time of Jarno's first pit stop - for another set of soft tyres - he was 12th while Timo had easily the longest first stint of all and had reached 11th place when he came in for super soft tyres. Jarno needed a second stop for a final stint on super soft tyres, which allowed Timo to get ahead. Timo battled past Nick Heidfeld in the final laps and crossed the finish line inside the top 10 while Jarno was 13th.

Timo Glock
"I have to say that finishing in the top 10 was a bit more than I expected at the start of the race considering how the weekend had gone up to then. We had good pace in the last stint but when you start from the pit lane in Monaco you cannot expect to score points. This weekend started badly and from then on we were playing catch up. At Monaco you want to start the weekend on a good basis and then adjust the car to the track as it evolves, but we had problems from the first practice. I am looking forward to Turkey and I hope we can improve significantly."

Jarno Trulli
"It was a tough race for me, as we anticipated after the qualifying result. It was always going to be very difficult from where we were on the grid and my strategy didn't work out. I seemed to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time with the traffic, which is obviously a real problem at this track. Whenever I was putting in a few good laps I had to slow down again because slower cars were in front and it is impossible to overtake. Now this difficult weekend is over we have to forget about it and focus on the next race when I am sure we will be much more competitive."

Tadashi Yamashina - Team Principal
"Even though it has been a difficult weekend for us, and a disappointing race, the team and both drivers pushed as hard as possible and did a professional job. They never gave up even after such a frustrating qualifying result and that is a credit to them. We obviously have to look very carefully at what went wrong this weekend when we get back to Cologne. Everyone in the factory has worked really hard this season so I am sure we will be back where we belong in Turkey. We remain third in the Constructors' Championship so we must continue to fight hard and think positively."

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 10:50 pm
by Ed
Turkish Grand Prix - Preview
Tuesday 2 June 2009

Date: Sunday, 7 June, 2pm CET
Round: 7 of 17
Venue: Istanbul Park
Distance: 5.338km (58 laps)
Lap record: 1min 24.770s (2005)
History: The Turkish Grand Prix has been held four times since its debut on the Formula 1 calendar in 2005, all of these races being at Istanbul Park.

Panasonic Toyota Racing heads beyond the eastern boundary of Europe this weekend for the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on the outskirts of the historic city. The modern 14-turn circuit, located on the Asian side of Istanbul, includes the triple-apex Turn 8, which challenges car and tyres alike. This weekend the team will be using the same soft and hard compound Bridgestone Potenza tyres as in Malaysia, although this combination has yet to be raced this season due to the Sunday rain in Sepang. After a thoroughly disappointing Monaco Grand Prix saw neither driver score points, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock fully expect a return to form this weekend. The team has competed in every Turkish Grand Prix so far, finishing in the points on two of the four occasions, and another healthy points haul is targeted to reinforce its third place in the Constructors' Championship.

Jarno Trulli (Car 9): "I am hopeful of a strong result this weekend. Monaco was difficult for everyone in the team but that is in the past now and we are looking forward to the next race. Monaco is basically a one-off circuit for Formula 1 and the Istanbul track is very different so I'm sure we will be a lot more competitive this weekend. We are third in the Constructors' Championship which shows that overall we are in good shape this year and it is important we return to the performance level we had in the first four races. Istanbul is not one of my favourite circuits and I have not had much luck there in the past; but I am determined to change that. Turn 8 is the most challenging part of the track and it's important to get your set-up right for this as you need a balanced car to be really quick. I can't wait to start practice and find out where we are because I am fired up to bounce back this weekend."

Timo Glock (Car 10): "I am going to Turkey with a huge amount of determination because Monaco was not the kind of weekend we expect and we are all looking forward to getting back to where we belong. Everyone at the team is really passionate about racing and about succeeding so the Monaco weekend hurt us but also gave us even more motivation to improve. I have spent some time at the factory since then to do what I can to help and I can see everyone there is giving everything for the team to succeed. Clearly we want to get back in the points this weekend but really our goals are higher than that and we ultimately want to be fighting for the podium. It's a very close fight at the moment so it's difficult to predict exactly what will happen but certainly we expect a big improvement and I am looking forward to battling at the right end of the grid in Turkey."

John Howett, President: "Clearly we want - and expect - to deliver a significantly better performance in Turkey than we did in Monaco, which was unacceptable to us. We saw in Spain and Monaco that we were not good enough on slow-speed sectors and we have worked tirelessly to understand the reason for this. It tends to be influenced by traction and this was magnified by Monaco. We have conducted a straight-line aero test and that will give us the information we need to rapidly develop a solution. Turkey is a very different circuit to Monaco and I am very optimistic we will be strong."

Today, Tomorrow, Toyota This year, as part of a global Toyota campaign, the TF109s feature messages used by local Toyota distributors to thank them for their continuing support of Panasonic Toyota Racing. For the European races, including Turkey, 'Today, Tomorrow, Toyota' is inspired by Toyota in Europe.

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 6:33 pm
by Ed
Turkish Grand Prix Preview Q+A - John Howett, President

What are the team's chances for the Turkish Grand Prix?
I believe we have a very good chance in Turkey. We are third in the Constructors' Championship and, with the exception of Monaco, we have been competitive everywhere this season. Both our drivers are performing really well at the moment and we know our car is fundamentally strong on normal circuit layouts so we are optimistic.

Why was the Monaco performance so disappointing?
In Barcelona we saw that in sector three - the slowest part of the track - our car was not performing as well as expected and this was magnified in Monaco, where the whole track is low speed. Basically our car is not particularly strong on slow-speed sections and we have to improve this.

What have you done since Monaco to address the problem?
The team back in Cologne has worked extremely hard to understand what happened in Monaco. We have analysed the Monaco situation based on the actual weekend data, specific wind tunnel tests and even a straight-line aero test. A solution is now being developed from these results.

Has Toyota slipped off the pace since Barcelona?
In terms of results, clearly we have not achieved what we expected in the last two races but I firmly believe our car is inherently very competitive and we will have the results to show that in the coming races. Our car was reasonably strong in Barcelona, particularly in the medium-high speed sections of the lap. Unfortunately we had poor starts and this compromised the race, with Jarno involved in an accident and Timo stuck in traffic. We had a very good chance of finishing in the top six, which would have been a decent result. Monaco was obviously not acceptable but it is a unique lay-out and I have no doubt we will be competitive again in Turkey. We have new parts coming for all of the next races so I believe you will see Toyota fighting at the front again very, very soon.

What about the political situation in Formula 1?
Toyota has, like the other FOTA teams, submitted a conditional entry to the 2010 World Championship and we are hopeful these conditions will be met. Firstly we need a new Concorde Agreement to be signed by all parties before 12 June this year to ensure proper governance; secondly the 2010 regulations must be based on those we have this year with modifications which FOTA has proposed.

How committed is Toyota to Formula 1?
We have consistently said we want to continue to participate in Formula 1 and if our conditional entry is accepted we will commit to the sport until at least the end of the 2012 season. If and when that happens, the unfounded rumours surrounding our future should stop.

Has FOTA agreed to a budget cap in 2010?
No, there is no budget cap contained within the FOTA proposals for 2010 regulations. FOTA has proposed a sensible method of controlling expenditure which can be managed in a very simple, practical manner whilst avoiding external and potentially costly auditing mechanisms. We have put forward a comprehensive document of proposals for the 2010 regulations which we believe will allow Formula 1 to prosper.

What about new teams? Does FOTA support new teams entering Formula 1?
We are happy to see new teams but we made it clear from the start that everybody has to compete under the same rules. Cost reduction was one of FOTA's founding principles and we have reduced the costs of leasing engines and transmissions by over 50%, with further significant savings contained within our proposed 2010 regulations. These include limits on aerodynamic development, restrictions on the use of exotic materials and prohibition of some costly technical activities, such as wheel rim heating, which don't add to the spectacle of Formula 1. We have proposed many effective measures to reduce the cost of entry to, and participation in, Formula 1.

How difficult have the negotiations been?
As everyone involved in Formula 1 knows, it has been a long and, at times, challenging process which is not yet concluded. If the conditions attached to our entry are accepted, I believe Formula 1 will be the winner. It has been extremely gratifying to see the unprecedented level of unity within FOTA. Naturally we are all competing on the track but we all recognised and acted upon the need for cooperation to ensure a viable future for Formula 1 as we know it. The constructive and open atmosphere within the organisation gives me great hope for the future health of Formula 1.