Suderia Ferrari's winter test and development programme got underway at Vallelunga yesterday, with they new young signing as no 2 driver, Felipe Massa, immediately getting out onto the Roman circuit. It was the first on-track test session for Ferrari since the 19-round 2005 Grand Prix season finished in at Shanghai in China a week last Sunday. Massa - who drove for the Swiss-based Sauber-Petronas team this year - was signed during the summer to replace his BAR-Honda bound Brazilian compatriot, Rubens Barrichello.

Yesterday saw Felipe Massa kicking off a development programme with the new V8 engine, at the wheel of a modified F2004 chassis. The Brazilian driver ran on a new version of the Roman circuit, covering a total of 46 laps during the day, and setting a best time in the process of 1 minute and 14.366 seconds. After a season to forget by their usual high standards, which saw them surrendering both the drivers' and constructors titles, to Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Renault respectively, the Scuderia are now embarking on a long winter test and development programme.
 

They aim to ensure than next year's car will be ready to challenge from the front, straight from the 2006 F1 season opener, which will take place in Bahrain on March 12th.  Next year's regulations call for a swage of changes being made to the cars, most notably the requirement to use a new 2.4-litre V8 engine, a development unit of which which Massa was trying out yesterday. Testing at Vallelunga continues today, again with new boy Felipe Massa on track.

Test Details: Circuit: Autodromo di Vallelunga - (4.085 km); Driver: Felipe Massa; Car: F2004; Weather: air temperature 12/24 °C, track temperature 16/32 °C. Fog in the morning, then clear skies.