Monaco Grand Prix - Preview
GLAMOUR CLAMOUR
Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the most glamorous weekend
of the season determined to return to points-scoring form
in the Monaco Grand Prix after its disappointing weekend in
Spain. The team’s 100% reliability record in 2007 ended
with retirement for Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli in Barcelona
but some encouragement came from with Jarno’s impressive
qualifying display. The tight Principality streets are a unique
challenge on the Formula 1 calendar and Toyota will use a
Monaco-specific aerodynamic package this weekend, including
revised front and rear wings. Monaco holds happy memories
for both our drivers, with Ralf claiming pole position in
2003 and Jarno taking pole position and his maiden victory
a year later. The team expects a return to form at Monaco
and hopes to add to its tally of five points so far in 2007.
Ralf Schumacher (Car 11): “Spain was
a disappointing weekend for me so obviously I am going to
Monaco looking for a big improvement. Our car has improved,
even if that was not clear from my results in qualifying or
the race, but we still have work to do and we will be pushing
hard for a better result in Monaco. It is always a great challenge
to race at Monaco with the narrow streets and barriers so
close. It’s a tough race physically and mentally because
you cannot afford even the smallest mistake. Overtaking is
nearly impossible so qualifying will be very important. I
have good memories of taking pole position in Monaco in the
past so our first goal will be to qualify as high as possible
to give me the best chance of a strong result. My aim for
the weekend has to be to score points again and I am optimistic
we have a good chance.”
Jarno Trulli (Car 12): “I am really
looking forward to Monaco because it is one of the best race
weekends of the year and I have always performed well there.
Of course, my victory from pole position in Monaco in 2004
is one of my happiest memories in Formula 1 but I have had
many other good performances there as well. I am optimistic
we can score a strong result this weekend and put what happened
in Spain behind us. It was such a pity about the technical
problem in Barcelona because I am certain I could have had
a really good result. We were strong in qualifying and it
was particularly encouraging to see we had the same fuel strategy
as the leading cars, so performance-wise we have made a step
forward. If we can get back to the reliability we showed at
the start of the season, Monaco should be a positive weekend
for us.”
Pascal Vasselon – Senior General Manager Chassis:
“I am looking forward to Monaco because for
me it is the highlight of the season. It is truly something
different and it’s a great place to be. We will have
a special aerodynamic package on the car because the requirements
of Monaco are so special. Principally, that means there will
be changes to the front and rear wings. The factors that determine
performance in Monaco are completely different to all other
races. Engine power and aerodynamics are slightly less important
in Monaco than elsewhere so you are left with tyres and drivers
as the key factors. In Spain the new aero package worked well,
it gave us two or three extra 10ths as expected. We were not
able to demonstrate this clearly in the race but Jarno’s
lap in qualifying showed we have made an improvement, especially
when you consider we had a similar fuel strategy to the front
cars. In Monaco we have to show this in the race and get back
into the points.”
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