Panasonic Toyota Racing heads to the high-speed Monza circuit this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix, the home race for Jarno Trulli. After a disappointing race in Turkey on the newest track in Formula 1, the team is determined to bounce back on one of the oldest.

Monza was built in 1922 and since then has become synonymous with high-speed racing. Three chicanes have slowed the track slightly over the years but Monza remains a theatre of speed and the team will bring a specific low-downforce aerodynamic package to Italy, including new front and rear wings, and other aerodynamic changes.

Ralf Schumacher will work on optimising the Monza package, as well as understanding the soft and medium Bridgestone Potenza tyres, when practice begins on Friday. After missing out on points in Turkey, the German racer is motivated and hopeful of a return to form in Monza.

“Turkey was a difficult weekend for me after qualifying but, despite the disappointing result, the positive thing was that the car felt good during the race,” the German racer said. “From where we were on the grid it was almost impossible to achieve a good result but I am confident we can have a better weekend in Italy. It is always nice to race in Italy because of the heritage and history of Monza.”

“We will use a very low downforce set-up because of the long straights but, as well as high speed, having confidence under braking for the tight chicanes is important. It is completely different from most other circuits and that makes Monza an interesting challenge for drivers. We will have a different aero package on the car for this race because Monza is unique. I’m looking forward to this weekend and hopefully we can show the potential of our car by fighting for more points.”