San Marino Preview Quotes: Toyota
Olivier Panis: "It is good to go back to Europe after three disappointing overseas races. I have to admit that Imola is not my favourite circuit on the calendar, mainly because of the tragic memories of 1994 - which was actually my first Imola GP - but the support of the Italian fans gives the whole place a special atmosphere. Braking will be very important this weekend and we will need to have a car that is stable under braking, because of all the chicanes. The kerbs play a vital role at Imola as well. Although they upset the car a lot, you have to use them to be competitive. The whole Panasonic Toyota Racing team has done a tremendous job up to now, so I hope we can continue in this positive direction and celebrate a strong race finish this weekend."
Olivier Panis: "It is good to go back to Europe after three disappointing overseas races. I have to admit that Imola is not my favourite circuit on the calendar, mainly because of the tragic memories of 1994 - which was actually my first Imola GP - but the support of the Italian fans gives the whole place a special atmosphere. Braking will be very important this weekend and we will need to have a car that is stable under braking, because of all the chicanes. The kerbs play a vital role at Imola as well. Although they upset the car a lot, you have to use them to be competitive. The whole Panasonic Toyota Racing team has done a tremendous job up to now, so I hope we can continue in this positive direction and celebrate a strong race finish this weekend."
Cristiano da Matta: "I had a productive two-day test at Paul Ricard last week, working on Michelin tyre evaluation and general car set-up. I am going into the San Marino Grand Prix with some recent experience and knowledge of the circuit, having tested the TF102B interim car back in February. I managed over 100 laps of the track during my two-day test, which I think will prove invaluable this weekend, as we can get straight down to business on Friday morning before the first qualifying session. Needless to say I am disappointed with the outcome of the opening three rounds of the season, but we will do all we can to begin the European season on a high."
Ove Andersson, Team Principal: "As we enter the European season, it is clear that we have missed some very good opportunities to win points in the opening three races. Our car has shown extreme competitiveness at times, and at other times we have been off the pace. This was highlighted perfectly in Brazil, when we topped the free practice timesheets on Saturday morning and then qualified down in 15th and 18th. We have to find the source of this discrepancy in our performance. Consistency is the key and I am optimistic that we can reach our targets in Imola, by qualifying in the top 10 and then seeing both TF103s past the chequered flag on Sunday afternoon."
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