Gene Satisfied with Ferrari's V8 Debut

The Spaniard test driver carried out two days of initial on-track testing for the 2006 engine, which the team had begun testing one month ahead of planned schedule.

Gene covered 38 laps yesterday, with a best time of 59.966 seconds - and today he was able to improve his best time to 59.305, running a total of 58 laps (seven on the short version of the track).

A team spokesman told Autosport-Atlas the test programme was successful, with no problems experienced at the track. Gene himself was also positive in his reaction - and was grateful to become the first driver to test the Ferrari V8.

"It's a great feeling for a driver to take a new engine for its track debut, and I am proud that this important moment was given to me," Gene stated.

"This first test is fundemental to get as much information as possible, to be able to compare it to the data we got at the bench test, and above all to check, with in-depth inspections in between one session and the next, if there are any basic problems.

"The main positive characteristics I noticed were in terms of driveability - particularly in accelerations. The indications we got in these tests are certainly very interesting."

No further testing is currently scheduled for the V8 development programme, and Gene will be shaking down tomorrow at Fiorano the cars used at next weekend's Turkish Grand Prix.