During the traditional end of year Christmas festivities at Maranello yesterday Felipe Massa has revealed that he is to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F2007 fitted with demonstration tyres for a private test session this week.

During the Scuderia's traditional end of year Christmas festivities at Maranello yesterday Felipe Massa has revealed that he is to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F2007 fitted with demonstration tyres for a private test session this week.

There were unusual guests yesterday at the Fiorano track: instead of the Prancing Horse cars, centre stage were the circus performers and animals, brought to Maranello to celebrate Christmas with all the Ferrari employees and their families. President Luca di Montezemolo and Team Principal of the Gestione Sportiva, Stefano Domenicali were also on hand to see three rather special Father Christmases, namely Felipe Massa, Luca Badoer and Marc Gene.

“It’s the first time I’ve dressed up as Father Christmas,” said Massa. “It’s nice to be here with so many children. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone peace, health and goodwill and for those of us who work for Ferrari, obviously, my wish is that we get back to our winning ways so that we can fight for the world championship.”

This has been an unbelievable year for Massa, who has already had a great present in the birth of his son, Felipinho, but he asked Ferrari to also give him a present. In the next few days, the Brazilian will be back on a race track at the Mugello circuit to drive a Formula 1 car: but it won’t be the F60, which he last drove at Valencia at the World Finals. Instead, he will drive an F2007, fitted with demonstration run tyres, with back-up from the Corse Clienti Department. The exact date for Felipe to do this has not yet been fixed, as the weather forecast for the Mugello area is very unsettled and it definitely will not happen today. “I wanted to jump into a Formula 1 car before the end of the year, so I made the most of being in Maranello to do it,” said Felipe. “I would like to thank Ferrari for having giving me this present.”

“I want to thank each one of you for your support after the accident,” said Massa at the Christmas party. “What happened to me this year was unbelievable and I took so much strength from you to recover as quickly as possible. The heartfelt warmth I felt from Ferrari is something I will never ever forget as long as I live. I assure you that my determination to get back on track and to win has never been this strong!”

Gestione Sportiva’s Christmas lunch was also the moment to make a presentation to someone who has been part of the Scuderia for the past fifteen years, Gilles Simon. The French engineer held the position of head of Engine Design from 1994 to 2006, after which he was in charge of the whole Engine Department. This period saw the Maranello V10 and V8 engines win six Drivers’ titles and eight Constructors’, along with 106 Formula 1 Grand Prix victories. “I wish to thank this engineer for all he has done, winning so much with us, a man of class and a good person,” said Montezemolo as he presented Simon with an example of the 056 engine which took the Constructors’ title in the F2008.”

ItaliaspeedTV: Ferrari Christmas Party, Maranello / Felipe Massa & Marc Gene interview