Sepang - Official Toyota Race Report

By Toyota Media -Karl
March 21 2005

Panasonic Toyota Racing has today scored its debut podium position after a "Trulli" outstanding drive from Jarno ensured he comfortably ended the gruelling 56-lap race in 2nd position

 A determined drive from Ralf Schumacher, not without its dramas, made it two cars in the top five, a total of 12 world championship points and 2nd place in the constructors'
championship.

DRIVEN TO PERFECTION
Jarno Trulli today drove a remarkable and competitive race to secure
Panasonic Toyota Racing's first visit to the podium in 53 races. Jarno drove
an outstanding race and matched the pace of the race-winning Renault team.
Jarno's qualifying time was only bettered by Fernando Alonso, who stopped
one lap before the Toyota driver, underlining the sheer competitiveness of
the TF105 package this weekend.

Jarno Trulli (Car 16, Chassis TF105/03)
Race Classification: 2nd
Gap: +24.327 (from race winner)
Aggregate Qualiying Classification: 2nd
Agg Time: 3m07.925s (+0.253s)
Grid: 2nd
"I had an excellent start and was easily keeping my second position behind
Fernando and extending my lead over Giancarlo. From there, I had an
absolutely trouble-free race and could control those cars behind me. I want
to thank everyone in the Toyota team and all the engineers, mechanics both
here and in Cologne for giving the car with which I could score Toyota's
first ever podium finish. It was a great result and I am sure the start of
even greater things to come. It was a real challenge this weekend with the
tyre and engine regulations, as well as the extreme heat which makes it
tough for the drivers. Luca Marmorini and his team have done an absolutely
exceptional job on the engine and we had no reliability issues in either of
the first two races this season."

DOUBLE HELPING
Ralf Schumacher helped make it a day to remember for Toyota after bringing
his TF105 home in fifth position and picking up four championship points in
a difficult race for the German.

Ralf Schumacher (Car 17, Chassis TF105/04)
Race Classification: 5th
Gap: +51.894s (from race winner)
Aggregate Qualifying Classification: 5th
Agg. Time: 3m09.007s (+1.335s)
Grid: 5th

"This is a wonderful result for the team. First and foremost I am happy for
my team-mate, but also for myself. I think it was a good, but difficult race
for me. I could not overtake for the first ten laps and then I had either
heavy graining or blistering. After that, I had the get together with Webber
after which my car was aerodynamically affected, causing some big
vibrations. I am happy to have finished the race altogether and I am pleased
to have contributed to our double points-finish today to take us to second
in the championship."

JUST FOR STARTERS
Toyota is one of only two teams on the grid to have built its entire car
from scratch in the same factory, but the only to do this in such a short
space of time. In today's Malaysian Grand Prix, the team celebrates the
first podium in its short F1 history - undoubtedly the first of many.

Tsutomu Tomita - Team Principal
"It has been four years of preparation and three years of racing for Toyota
to achieve this fantastic result. The style in which we did it was even more
rewarding. I would like to firstly extend my thanks to the drivers, everyone
at Toyota Motorsport, Toyota Motor Corporation and the team's sponsors whose
invaluable support made this result possible. We have experienced so many
challenges this weekend in terms of the technical regulation changes for the
season. I am especially pleased that our engine has completed eight free
practice sessions, four qualifying sessions and two demanding races without
any issues. Toyota always rises to the technical challenge and this has been
no exception. This is how racing can be done and should be done. We know