Schumi tests F2007 Ferrari

Michael Schumacher declared himself satisfied with his first Formula 1 test since April 2008 after reacclimatising using a 2007 vintage Ferrari at Mugello today.

In preparation for his comeback substituting for the injured Felipe Massa in Valencia at the end of August, Schumacher completed 67 laps of the Italian track in the two-year-old car, which had been supplied by Ferrari's F1 Clienti department. The F2007 was running on GP2 specification slick tyres.

Schumacher set a best time of 1m23.736s, and although the unusual machinery made direct comparisons difficult, the fastest time recorded during the Ferrari F60's week-long test at Mugello in January was a 1m23.981s by Massa.

"It's a great thing getting back on the track with an F1 [car] even if this was a car from 2007 from the F1 Clienti department with slicks usually used in GP2 and obviously there is no real point of reference," said Schumacher.

"After a couple of laps I was able to drive costant lap times and I'm happy with the performance. Now we've got to see how my body and the muscles respond in the next days."

Ferrari is still awaiting a response from rival teams to its request for an exemption to the testing ban to let Schumacher try the 2009 car before Valencia.




Text as seen at autosport.com

Massa to Return to Brazil

Today, Dino Altmann revealed to journalists at the AEK Hospital in Budapest, where Massa has been treated since his accident during the weekend of the Hungarian Grand Prix. That "Felipe continues to improve, he is doing very well, and we already decided to go back home on Monday to Brazil," following up by stating that "He will fly to Sao Paulo."

Altmann said "there was no need" for the Brazilian to be taken to FIA Institute deputy president Gerard Saillant's clinic in Paris, where Michael Schumacher was also treated after he broke his leg in an accident ten years ago.

"He has to continue his recovery and go back racing as soon as possible, that's the plan," Altmann added. "No special treatment." "He is in very good mood, he is in good shape. He wants to come back soon."

Massa Out of Intensive Care

A Ferrari spokesman has confirmed that Felipe Massa moved out of the intensive care unit at Budapest's AEK hospital on Wednesday.

"The most important situation is that Felipe is out of intensive care and now in his own private room," the team spokesman said. "He is speaking more or less normally and he has managed a few steps so, from a clinical point of view, everything is going in the right direction," Ferrari's Luca Colajanni added.

The Maranello based team confirmed that Michael Schumacher is scheduled to fill in for as long as it takes the 28-year-old Brazilian to recover from the Hungarian GP qualifying crash.
Massa's doctor Dino Altman said he is hopeful he will be able to return to Formula One at some point, telling reporters the Ferrari driver "doesn't seem to have a long-term injury".


Courtesy of motorsport.com

Schumacher to Drive for Massa

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro intends to put Michael Schumacher in Felipe Massa's car until the Brazilian driver is able to return to racing again after sustaining a serious and potentially life threatening head injury. The injury was caused by a spring which came loose from one of the Brawn GP cars and struck Massa in the head.

Michael Schumacher said he is ready and, over the next few days, will undertake a specifc training programme at the end of which confirmation will be given of his participation in the Championship which would take effect from the European Grand Prix on the 23rd of August.

Ferrari 458 Italia Unveiled!

The first official pictures of Ferrari's new 8 cylinder mid-engine sportscar have finally been unveiled and they are in a word...Stunning!

A 4.5L V8 capable of 562 bhp at 9000 rpm combined with an upgraded 7 speed dual clutch transmission, as first seen in the new California, will no doubt make the All-New 458 Italia blindingly fast! Claims put the car at 0-62 in under 3.4 secs and a top speed of over 200mph!

The first time the general public will get to lay eyes on the latest master piece from the boys in Maranello will be at this years Frankfurt Auto Show in September.

HGTE Upgrade for Current 599 Owners

Officially available as a Ferrari Genuine Accessory package, Ferrari is now offering the Handling GTE upgrade to current 599 owners.

Available on 599 models produced before 2008, Ferrari is offering Handling, Exhaust and Aesthetics kits for totaling roughly $28,280. The Handling kit includes a 10mm lower suspension, recalibrated suspension settings, stiffer springs and thicker anti-roll bars, stickier tires and light-weight three piece modular rims.

The Exhaust kit throws in new silencers and two-tone tailpipes with the Aesthetics kit adding unique grille and Ferrari badging.

Those cars produced after 2008 will also be eligible for Ferrari’s Performance kit. That kit will include the aforementioned Exhaust kit, improved shift times for 599s equipped with Ferrari’s F1 gearbox and a modified ECU for better throttle response. The Handling, Performance, Exhaust and Aesthetics kits will list for roughly $32,000.

Aston Martin's City Car "Cygnet" Revealed

Aston Martin has yet to release specific details on their new city car project dubbed "Cygnet" such as price and a potential release date, either way the company CEO Ulrich Bez is high on the project. “Much work is still required, but I am confident that this project could become reality in the not-too-distant future,” Bez said of the Cygnet. Surfacing reports suggest the Cygnet will list from 23,000 euros ($32,300), with roughly 2,000 examples slated to be produced each year.

Unlike other supercar makers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini, Aston Martin doesn’t have a parent company to leverage fuel economy averages. As such, Aston needs a car like the Cygnet bring its emission average in line with new standards slated to take effect in 2012. The Cygnet will be the first of the city cars to wear such an elite badge, which should give the model a bit of exclusivity.