25.02.2004 MICHAEL SCHUMACHER SMASHES THE TRACK RECORD AS THE NEW FERRARI F2004 FINALLY GOES HEAD TO HEAD WITH ITS RIVALS

The new Ferrari F2004 has finally joined its biggest rivals for the coming season in an official F1 test, Michael Schumacher hitting the track at Imola alongside the Williams-BMW and McLaren-Mercedes in the final week of testing before the teams pack up and fly to Australia.

Sprouting new 'winglets' on the engine covers, Schumacher confirmed that the F2004 is indeed quick, as he demolished his own track record at Imola today, blitzing his Williams and McLaren rivals.

Ferrari kicked off their final F1 pre-season test on Monday, a day earlier than planned, as the Italian team switched to Imola after their Mugello session was abandoned due to bad weather conditions. Rubens Barrichello took to the track to continue development work on the F2004. The Brazilian driver, the sole runner present, covered a total of 98 laps, with a best time of 1:21.720.

Yesterday, Michael Schumacher joined Rubens Barrichello on the track at Imola on a day which was once again affected by bad weather. Ferrari's technical program of the day centred on development of the F2004 for Schumacher, while Barrichello concentrated on tyre testing at the wheel of an F2003-GA. Michael covered a total of 32 laps, the quickest in a time of 1:21.927, while Rubens did 27, the quickest being a 1:22.568.

After running by themselves the day before, Ferrari were joined yesterday by Williams, McLaren and Toyota as the new F2004 finally went head to head with its main rivals. Ralf Schumacher in the new 'wide-nose' Williams-BMW FW26 posted the fastest time of the session, a 1:21.856, fractionally quicker than his brother, although he did complete 24 more laps than the World Champion.

Today, as conditions improved and the track stayed dry,  Michael Schumacher continued with development work on the F2004, covering a total of 98 laps, the quickest in a time of 1:19.664 smashed his own Imola track record, a 1:20.411 set while testing last February. For his part, Rubens Barrichello undertook a series of tyre tests at the wheel of an F2003-GA: he did 52 laps, with a best time of 1:21.235.

Schumacher's 1:19.664 was the clear fastest time of the day, with David Coulthard in the McLaren-Mercedes MP4/19 who ran 69 laps, 1.25 seconds adrift with a 1:20.928. Juan Pablo Montoya who took over from Ralf Schumacher in the sole Williams present posted a 1:21.026 during his 72 laps, two tenths ahead of Barrichello, while the Toyotas of Cristiano Da Matta and Oliver Panis rounded out the six runners present.

Circuit: Autodromo 'Enzo e Dino Ferrari' - 4,933 km; 23/02: Driver: Rubens Barrichello; Car: F2004; Weather: air temperature 10/14 °C, track temperature 11/15 °C; cloudy. 24/02: Drivers: Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, Car: F2004 and F2003-GA, Weather: air temperature 2/4 °C, track temperature 4/5 °C; cloudy with a mix of rain and snow. 25/02: Drivers: Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, Car: F2004 and F2003-GA, Weather: air temperature 1/6 °C, track temperature 2/7 °C; cloudy.