Schumacher to make testing return for Ferrari 06 Nov 2007
Michael Schumacher will test a Formula One car in earnest next week for the first time since his retirement at the end of last season. Schumacher will get behind the wheel of this year’s Ferrari F2007 as part of the team’s 2008 preparations.
The seven-time world champion is expected to spend two days at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya in Spain, during the first multi-team test since last month’s Brazilian Grand Prix, which saw Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen wrap up the ’07 constructors’ and drivers’ titles.
Schumacher has remained part of the Ferrari family since quitting competitive racing just over a year ago and he attended several Grands Prix this season in his role as ‘special advisor’ to the Italian team. While next week’s test will be partly for pleasure, the German could also make a valuable technical contribution for 2008, when traction control will be outlawed from Formula One racing.
"Michael has a big experience in driving cars with no traction control and no electronic aids, so it makes sense for him to give his input," Schumacher's spokeswoman told news agency Reuters.
Schumacher has driven the F2007 on one previous occasion when he put in a handful of demonstration laps for Fiat bosses at Ferrari’s Fiorano circuit in Italy recently.
