A number of reputable media sources have this morning stated that Scuderia Ferrari will launch its new Formula 1 car, the racing machine that will carry them through the 2007 Grand Prix season, at their Maranello headquarters this coming Sunday (14th January). The car will then start its testing programme the following day (Monday 15th January) at the private Fiorano circuit, in the hands of Felipe Massa.

Media sources to state this proposed schedule today include Italian news agency ANSA, German newspaper Bild, and Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, but there is much confusion as to whether Ferrari will actually show their new car, or just present photographs of it, and also if photographers will be allowed to attend the event; all suggesting that the Scuderia are keen to keep its details of the cars away from the prying eyes of other teams for as long as possible.

Sunday's official launch at Maranello and Monday testing debut at Fiorano will come immediately after the conclusion of Vroom 2007 the now traditional Scuderia Ferrari media event which is held each January at the Italian Alpine ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio. New signing, the Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen will be seen in the red Ferrari colours for the first time at Vroom 2007 this week.
 

Raikkonen, who has just switched to the Italian team from the McLaren-Mercedes outfit, will also be present at the launch of the new car on Sunday, but 2007 team mate Massa - who drove for the Scuderia throughout last year, picking up his first Grand Prix wins - is though expected to carry out the new car's shakedown and the bulk of the initial testing programme.

The new Ferrari F1 challenger, which has not had its designation revealed yet, will replace the 248 F1 which powered the Scuderia to second place in the FIA F1 Constructors' championship last year, and Michael Schumacher to second place in the Drivers' series. With both titles almost snatched by the team after a year long scrap with Renault, it more than made up for the previous year when Ferrari had struggled to get its cars onto the front running pace, winning just one race. The new F1 car will be the second one to use the new-generation of 2.4-litre V8 engines which were introduced last year, along with revised rules to lower downforce.