Ferrari F2006

[Zytek_Fan]

The car that Michael Schumacher hopes will restore him to the rank of world champion turned a wheel for the first time earlier today [Monday], when the German took it for a series of shakedown laps at Fiorano.

Running unbranded, the plain scarlet car completed several successful tours of the Scuderia's private test track, giving Schumacher an early taste of what to expect - and the development task ahead of him - as he attempts to wrest back his crown from Fernando Alonso in 2006.

The official launch of the F2006 is not scheduled until Tuesday 24 January - at Mugello, rather than at the traditional Maranello ceremony - before which Schumacher is expected to run at a combination of Mugello and Fiorano. The launch will take place during a dedicated Mugello test.

f2006_1.jpg f2006_2.jpg f2006_3.jpg f2006_4.jpg

[Dino Scuderia]

Here's a bigger pic.

[jorismo]

No lap times of the test?

Btw, great pic Dino!

[Wouter Melissen]

Here's a bigger pic.

The fourth pic reveals some interesting features like the wing mirrors, curved wings on the intake and the slits in the rear endplates. Hopefully for Ferrari this is a revolutionary car again, instead of an evolutionary.

[Dino Scuderia]

Ferrari end first test with little hiccups

Ferrari have ended their first day of testing with the new 2006 Formula One car, which has been designated the project code of 657.

Former World Champion Michael Schumacher ran a total of 51 laps around the team's test track at Fiorano, setting a quickest time of 59.569 seconds.

According to ANSA, the new Ferrari V8 engine backfired after 45 trouble-free laps and Schumacher stalled on the straight. The German waited on board the car for the truck to pull it back to the pits.

The Italian news agency suggested this was down to a fuel pick-up problem, although this is not necessarily indicative of a serious issue with the car.

One of the first experiments performed on a new car relates to the fuel pick-up, so today's breakdown may not indicate a real reliability issue.

Ferrari are scheduled to resume their development testing of the 657 on Friday this week, although the test depends on the weather and ice situation at the Fiorano track, after light snow was falling during today's session.

[carsnut]

lets hope they win this year

[johnnyperl]

thanks for the pics.....MORE!!

EDIT: better version of the first set of pics is here

[Dino Scuderia]

MS says the new car is more like a kart so that could mean everyone else is in trouble.

[:Exige:]

MS says the new car is more like a kart so that could mean everyone else is in trouble.

Or it could mean it has a top speed of 50mph

[Dino Scuderia]

Or it could mean it has a top speed of 50mph

LOL!

[johnnyperl]

The fourth pic reveals some interesting features like the wing mirrors, curved wings on the intake and the slits in the rear endplates. Hopefully for Ferrari this is a revolutionary car again, instead of an evolutionary.

all those can be seen on cars from last year if not earlier (mirrors are new style though). IMO the last major step was the F2003, mainly in the sidepods. hope its a little better than last year at least.

another change is the size of the air intake, for obvious reasons. maybe thats just my imagination, knowing the engines are smaller.

[Zytek_Fan]

The side pods look a lot like those seen on the Renault R25

r25.jpg

[jorismo]

Former World Champion Michael Schumacher ran a total of 51 laps around the team's test track at Fiorano, setting a quickest time of 59.569 seconds.

How good is that time?? Any body has an idea?

[johnnyperl]

in 2004 it was 56.279sec
this test is just a shake down though.

[jorismo]

in 2004 it was 56.279sec
this test is just a shake down though.

And it has a V8, so it's pretty good I guess...