Ferrari's new car for the upcoming Formula 1 season made its debut at the Fiorano test track on Monday with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher at the wheel.
The new car, expected to be called the F2006, will be officially presented on January 24 and on Monday the press and onlookers were kept at a distance during its first few laps around the track, which was dusted with light snow.
Schumacher took the car around the track for just a lap before heading back onto the box. He then returned some 20 minutes later for three more laps and even did a mock start for the last lap.
Ferrari hopes its new car will help them forget last season when the team placed only third, after winning the constructors' title six years in a row, and Schumacher was only third in the drivers' standings, after winning the championship five years straight.
Formula 1 cars this year have had to downsize their engines from the 3000cc V10 used last season to a 2,400cc V8 for 2006. This is expected to cut horse power and added an average of five seconds per lap.
The new Ferrari appeared on the track without any advertising except for the team's own prancing black horse logo.
