Ferrari Will Debut 2010 Car Today, at Fiorano

Although the first testing session of the new season's calendar is scheduled next week, one team seems to use the necessary tactics to get their 2010 challenger on the race track sooner than that. We're talking about Ferrari, who's set to launch their brand new F1 car later today, during a media event in Maranello.

While the F1 photographers were not invited to attend the event, the team will debut their new car in front of the international media, during a ceremony that will be broadcast live on the Internet. And that's not all! Following the interviews and the press conference at Maranello – scheduled for somewhere around 11.00 AM – Felipe Massa will take the 281 to the track in the afternoon.

It appears the 2010 challenger's official designation inside the Ferrari garage is 281, but the car will be given another name at the launch event. As far as the testing session goes, as FIA currently bans test meetings before the February 1st date, Ferrari argued it will be conducted “for a promotional video.”

According to the Ferrari press release, should the weather allow it, Massa will take the new car for a drive (a few laps) at the Fiorano race track in the afternoon. Otherwise, the testing will happen on Friday.

“Otherwise Felipe will drive on Friday and, shouldn't the weather conditions improve, the debut on the track will happen on Monday,” said the team, meaning Ferrari would debut their car with all the other teams, on Valencia's Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

Next week, it is again Felipe Massa who is scheduled to take the new car to the track during the first day of testing – on Monday – after which the 2010 Ferrari will be handed to Fernando Alonso for the 2nd and 3rd day of the meeting.