Toyota test next week

da Matta
By Sophie Mason
November 20 2002

Cristiano da Matta will start his F1 career later this month when he joins Olivier Panis and the rest of the Toyota team at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya for 3 days of testing.

Both drivers will be running last years TF102 fitted with a new engine and gearbox. This will be the first outing for both drivers for their new team and will be the first performance indication that anybody will have of them and the car.

Testing will then continue the following week ( 2 - 5 December) at 2 circuits. Cristiano da Matta and Olivier Panis will split up with 1 driver staying in Barcelona and the other going to Paul Ricard circuit in the South of France.

Paul Ricard have recently introduced their new sprinkler system enabling wet weather tests to go ahead without the inconvenience of having to wait for the rain. With the new tyre regulations allowing only 1 wet tyre to be taken to each race, this facility will be extremely useful to both the teams and to the Tyre manufacturers.