By Huw Alban (31/05/03)
June 12 2003

Toyota enjoyed a bit of success today in Qualifying 2 with da Matta in the top 10. Olivier Panis's lap looked to be quicker but a poor 3rd sector blew his lap down to 17th place. After an equally poor Thursday the Toyota drivers were 2nd and 3rd out on the circuit, and at a disadvantage as there would not be any rubber on the track that early in the session. UK TV commentary prior to the session suggested that the Michelin runners would be at an advantage at Monaco, as the practice sessions had suggested that the tyres lasted better than their Bridgestone competition. The commentary also had something to say about Toyota's performance at the circuit, with Martin Brundle describing the team as "all at sea". ITV's James Allen had been talking to one of the Toyota engineers and stated that the team were confused as to why they were so uncompetitive, especially considering their good run in Monte Carlo in 2002.

Cristiano da Matta was the first Toyota driver out, and the first part of his lap looked clean and tidy. The Brazilian had a moment at the habour chicane as he locked his inside front tyre braking into the first corner there. Jenson Button's massive crash earlier in the day at this corner had dominated the TV coverage, and as smoke erupted from da Matta's tyres the ITV commentary team went into overdrive. Fortunately Cristiano held it together and completed a respectable 1'16"744, a lap time that suggested that he was running light and likely to be three stopping in tomorrows' race.

Olivier Panis was next out, and he looked clean and tidy throughout his entire lap. The Frenchman was up on his team mate in the first two sectors but mysteriously lost a great deal of time in the last few corners of the circuit. His 1'17"464 time is not characteristic of his performance this weekend, and will remain a mystery until the team comments are published.

Cristiano da Matta's time netted him 10th by the end of the session, whilst Panis found himself languishing in 17th.