Formula One news

Gascoyne expects exciting qualifying

Toyota technical director Mike Gascoyne expects the new qualitying system for 2006 to provide some fascinating action in the course of the season. The new knockout system will put even more pressure on teams and drivers not to make mistakes.

"I think it will be pretty exciting," said Gascoyne. "We've got the first two sessions where we have to go out and do a time, and in the third we're going to want to be out lapping because we want to bring the fuel level down. And then with two minutes to go, everyone's going to be diving into the pits for quick tyre changes."

"I think it will be pretty hectic!" he exclaimed. "It's always difficult to know how these things are going to pan out. There will be cars on the track all the time, so that's something for the fans to watch. One lap qualifying wasn't particularly bad if you watched it on TV, but it was pretty quiet at the track. Now it will certainly build to something."

Inevitably the new format puts a premium on being organised, especially when the final decision on race fuel loads is taken between the second and third sessions.

"When we complete the second session we've got to get the cars in and refuel them," Gascoyne explained. "As we go out for the last session we have to have what is effectively the race fuel load. There's going to be quite a bit of action, because it will be important to be the first car out to complete the maximum number of laps and get the fuel level down."

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