Ferrari on track for late January launch

Jan.6 (GMM) Ferrari is edging close to having its 2014 car ready for the start of winter testing.

Reports in the Marca sports newspaper (Spain) and the authoritative Autosprint (Italy) say the Maranello-built single seater is set to be launched on either the 23rd, 24th or 25th of January, a few days ahead of the opening test at Jerez.

Marca correspondent Marco Canseco said the car, whose official name will be decided by fans via an internet poll, will "almost certainly" undergo its mandatory FIA crash tests this week at the CSI technical facility in Bollate, Italy.

He added that Ferrari has already been testing the all-new 2014 electrical and energy recovery systems in a 2011 chassis, although the turbo V6 engine will not be run at an actual circuit until Jerez late this month.

But Alessandro Stefanini, the Autosprint correspondent, said the 2014 package will be run over a couple of "filming days" prior to its official debut.

He said the most likely car launch date is Thursday 23 January or Saturday 25 January, with Friday less likely for Enzo Ferrari-linked "superstitious" reasons.

Giorgio Piola, the well-known F1 technical illustrator, believes Ferrari has decided to revert to a more conventional pushrod layout for its front suspension this year, after the innovative 'pullrod' cars of 2012 and 2013, according to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport.