Ferrari 2008 Car Launch Confirmed

Ferrari have confirmed that their 2008 car will be launched at their Fiorano test track on January 6.

The new machine, an evolution of the car that helped Kimi Raikkonen win the world championship this year, will be unveiled to the world’s press prior to its first test at Jerez in Spain the following week.

Ferrari CEO Jean Todt revealed the launch date at a meeting with Italian press at Maranello, and also made it clear that he would not be present at the January event.

"I won’t attend the launch on January 6th, as I’m coming back from a vacation in Malaysia on the following day," he was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport. "As for the races, I will go once in a while."

Extra news on the 2008 developments: Aldo Costa was reluctant to reveal how much shorter the wheelbase will be as earlier announced by the team, but Costa pointed out: ”The new car shouldn’t lose its technical peculiarities on fast tracks, and should at the same time limit some problems experienced on more tortuous circuits. We don’t have infinite resources and there can only be one car, so a compromise is needed between what we want on various types of tracks.”

As for the world champion, Kimi will be spotlighting the F2008 for a test at Fiorano on the 7th January. Both Massa and Raikkonen will begin extensive development work on the car a week later. Luca Baldisserri mentioned in an interview that the F2008 will be suited more to Kimi.

The entire aerodynamic package (with a nose that is expected to be narrower and with a pointier end) of the new car will only be first used in Bahrain in February.

From 7th till the 12th of January the team will traditionally be at Madonna di Campiglio, which will be Kimi’s second attendance of the event since he joined the team officially last January.

Looking forward to the new car and new year for Raikko!