For the third year running the Federation Française du Sport Automobile and the Institute for Cerebral and Medullar Disorders (ICM) are joining forces at the French Grand Prix to provide an exceptional event.

On this occasion, Michael Schumacher, the recently retired 7-times F1 World Champion, will spend the weekend at the Magny-Cours circuit. He will be back on a track on which he has written some of the outstanding pages of his career. He has scored eight victories in the race (1994,95, 97, 98, 2001, 02, 04, 06), and won it for the fifth time in 2002 equalling Juan Manuel Fangio's record set in 1957. Two years later he became the first driver to win a grand prix on a strategy that included four pitstops.

As in previous years track baptisms will be organised for the ICM. Donors can win a lap of the track in a Ferrari with Michael Schumacher as well as a driving suit signed by the champion.

These baptisms will be held during the race weekend in front of the Formula 1 players in the fevered ambience of a grand prix. There will be an ICM booth at the Magny-Cours circuit to provide spectators with information and collect their donations.

In the words of Jean Todt, the Ferrari SpA chief administrator and founder of the ICM: "The Magny-Cours rendez-vous is now a tradition to back the ICM Foundation, and I would like to take this opportunity of thanking the FFSA for the help it has always given us. I've always been struck by sensitivity of the F1 enthusiasts who go to the circuit and follow our initiative to develop medical research for brain and spinal cord injuries. It shows us that sport can help mobilise people's conscience about a subject that concerns everybody, and I'm sure that this time their generosity will be greater than ever. It's thanks to their help that this year we can lay the first stone of the ICM."

Michael Schumacher: "For me, helping to create and develop the ICM has always been something obvious: a duty in fact. It's a fantastic project managed by some exceptional people. I'm both happy and proud to be able to contribute to it."