04/11/2005
NEWS STORY
Three days of testing concluded on Thursday at Vallelunga. On track for the tests were Luca Badoer and Felipe Massa.
The final day's programme focused on developing Bridgestone tyres and comparing the performance of the two cars on the circuit: the F2004 and the F2005.
"We are pleased with the data we have gathered", declared Massa. "We were able to see something interesting that will be useful in Bridgestone's next stage of development. Furthermore, I was able to run many kilometres with the new V8, confirming the positive impression I had last week.
"We, with the support of Shell, are making good progress in terms of reliability," he added.
Felipe drove a true eight cylinder engine while Luca used a V10 in order to reproduce the conditions that will be in force at the beginning of next season.
The next test date is scheduled for 19 November at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain. Ferrari will benefit from the possibility offered by FOM to all the teams to test for four days on the track that will host the opening world championship race on 12 March.
The drivers in Bahrain will be Luca Badoer and Marc Gené. Gené, fresh from marrying his fiance, Eva, on Saturday 29, was recently unveiled as the Scuderia's official test driver for 2006 alongside Badoer. Next year will be Badoer's ninth season as a Ferrari test driver.