Formula 1

Toyota Jerez test notes 2006-10-12

In just ten days the 2006 Formula 1 season will come to close. Today however, concluded the Panasonic Toyota Racing team's testing for this season at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez in Spain. From November last year until now, the test team has ...

Published: Oct 12, 2006, 9:10 PM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

In just ten days the 2006 Formula 1 season will come to close. Today however, concluded the Panasonic Toyota Racing team's testing for this season at the Circuito Permanente de Jerez in Spain.

From November last year until now, the test team has had a long and busy programme testing many different items to develop and bring the race cars forward. Mainly the team concentrated on tyres, having switched to Bridgestone and learning about a whole new tyre philosophy. Whether it was a high or low point during the season, the team always held together and pushed to improve performance.

One hard worker among the many will now leave the team and head on to new pastures; Ricardo Zonta put in his last day of work for the team today and bade farewell to everyone he has worked with over the last season. Olivier Panis who was also at the wheel today, will stay on until the end of the season before he also carries on with his new challenge in life.

Ricardo Zonta:

"Today was a challenging last day for me. We had planned to do a lot of long runs for the Brazilian race tyre choice. Unfortunately we lost some valuable time when my engine needed to be changed. In the end, we still got some running in and I think the team can make a good choice."

"This being my last day it is difficult to leave a team that I have worked with a long time and who have treated me so well. Looking back, we have had quite a busy and difficult season, focusing on the tyres and developing the car to improve on our results. The team was always motivated to keep moving ahead. I have always felt welcome here and I will miss everyone that I have worked with."

Olivier Panis:

"I am happy with today's running and our results. We worked mainly on tyres and set-up preparations for Interlagos. I was able to drive over 90 laps and collected some good data on the tyres for this race. I think we can be confident for the last race and still vie for 5th place. The team has worked hard and it would be great to end the season on a high note."

Gerd Pfeiffer, Test Team Manager:

"Overall we can be happy with this week's test. Today's running was not as smooth as yesterday, because we lost time with Ricardo's car due to an engine change. Nevertheless, Olivier was quite busy with the tyre testing for Brazil."

"It is too bad that we are losing Ricardo and Olivier, as both have a lot of experience and have been committed to our development over the last four years. Although Olivier will come back for winter testing, at this time, we would like to thank Ricardo for sharing his expertise and showing such dedication over the years. He will truly be missed."

Ricardo Zonta
Chassis: TF106/07B
Best Lap Time: 1m17.488
Total laps: 73
Total distance: 323.244kms

Olivier Panis
Chassis: TF106/06B
Best Lap Time: 1m17.801s
Total laps: 92
Total distance: 407.376kms

-credit: toyota

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Schumacher focused on constructors' title

Next article Brazilian GP: Honda preview

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Olivier Panis



On this day: Olivier Panis takes only F1 win in chaotic Monaco GP

Formula 1

Formula 1

Monaco GP

On this day: Olivier Panis takes only F1 win in chaotic Monaco GP



Exclusive: Panis says ART’s Vasseur would “do the job” for Renault F1

Formula 1

Formula 1

Exclusive: Panis says ART’s Vasseur would “do the job” for Renault F1



Formula Renault 3.5 kicks off 2015 season at Motorland Aragón

Formula V8 3.5

Formula V8 3.5

Formula Renault 3.5 kicks off 2015 season at Motorland Aragón

More from

Toyota Racing



Why Toyota’s 2026 WEC triumphs have put it into the all-time greatest endurance racing team debate

WEC

Barcelona

Why Toyota’s 2026 WEC triumphs have put it into the all-time greatest endurance racing team debate



Toyota answers critics who doubted it could win in WEC’s competitive Hypercar era

WEC

WEC

Barcelona

Toyota answers critics who doubted it could win in WEC’s competitive Hypercar era



How Toyota destroyed the competition to seal the WEC crowns

WEC

Barcelona

How Toyota destroyed the competition to seal the WEC crowns

Latest news



F1 Mexico GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

41 min

F1 Mexico GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch



Unwell Kimi Antonelli skips F1 Mexico GP media day

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Mexican GP

2 h

Unwell Kimi Antonelli skips F1 Mexico GP media day



Adding a stage, fuel cell mod all on table to fix superspeedway fuel saving

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Talladega II

2 h

Adding a stage, fuel cell mod all on table to fix superspeedway fuel saving



Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans

WEC

WEC WEC 3 h

Why Daniel Ricciardo would consider a comeback at Le Mans

Feature

Discover prime content



The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

The one aspect of the 2026 US GP that should be a blueprint for F1 2027



A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

A strategic masterclass: How Kimi Antonelli put himself on the cusp of F1 title at the US GP



How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying

Formula 1

United States GP

By Stuart Codling

How Verstappen and Antonelli were both “surprised” in United States GP qualifying



What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

What we learned from Friday practice at the 2026 United States GP

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe