Ferrari Launches F2008

Ferrari launch new car
Eurosport - Sun, 06 Jan 20:53:00 2008

Ferrari became the first team to launch their 2008 Formula One challenger as their all-new F2008 broke cover for the first time at their Maranello headquarters in Italy.

The car, which will be codenamed the 659 within the team, will be raced by Finn Kimi Raikkonen as he seeks to defend his drivers' world title and by his Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa.

The car features a number of major changes from the 2007 model, all of which have been made in line with this year's banning of electronic driver aids.

The F2008 has a longer wheelbase than last year's car to improve the weight distribution now that traction control will no longer be allowed, and it's electronics are far less advanced too, following the introduction of a standard ECU to all cars this season.

The gearbox - which must now last four races between changes rather than just one last year - plus increased driver head protection and a reduction in the number of hi-tech materials allowed in the car's construction - means that the overall weight of the machine is significantly heavier than it's predecessor.

The aerodynamics too have had a radical overhaul, all aimed at maximising the car's performance without driver aids.

The team though, said that the aero package will be altered before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix to a noticeable extent.

Raikkonen will give the machine it's maiden run at Ferrari's private Fiorano test track on January 6, the same day that McLaren have chosen to launch their new car in Stuttgart.