Schumacher Eager to Return to Racing

World Champion Michael Schumacher said he is eager to return to racing next year and said he was optimistic the new 2004 Ferrari challenger will be as good as its predecessor.

The German visited the Ferrari factory at Maranello, Italy, today, where he met with the team's chief Jean Todt as well as engine director Paolo Martinelli and chief designer Rory Byrne. The three updated Schumacher on the progress of development.

"It was great to be back in Maranello for the first time since Suzuka," Schumacher later said. "Meeting up with Jean, Rory and Paolo has made me even keener to get back on track, especially as they told me so much about the new car, which sounds really promising.

"I keep in regular contact with them but today I was able to see the latest developments in the project for myself. We are still right in the middle of preparations for next year, but already I can feel the desire to go racing again."

Although Ferrari begin testing next week, Schumacher himself is not scheduled to join the testing before January. That said, the German could change his plans and join testing earlier than scheduled, as he had done last year.