KEY POINTS:
Preparations for the coming A1GP World Cup of Motorsport are well on track taking into consideration the fourth season of the series sees the introduction of a new car.
In October last year, Ferrari signed a contact with A1GP to supply engines and design consultancy services from 2008
through to the 2014 season.
The chassis is based on the F2004 modified to meet A1GP regulations and the ethos of close competitive racing. All cars will use a yet-to-be-named Ferrari sports car-based V8 engine developing 600hp.
There was some concern that an engine designed for sports car racing may over-stress under the demands of single seater racing but all appears to be well, with only a few hiccups in shakedown testing. The car has come through over 3500km of race-pace testing at Mugello, Italy, Jerez in Spain and finally in the heat at Guadix near Granada.
Scuderia Ferrari test driver Marc Gene is impressed saying,"It's an interesting car and I had a lot of fun. It's not an F1 car but it's not intended to be one. It will produce exciting racing, allows overtaking and is an extreme drive."
The majority of testing duties have been undertaken by Andrea Bertolini and Patrick Friesacher both of whom have said the car is well balanced, the tyres have worked well with the modified chassis and the electronics are now working and are reliable.
"The car has completed almost a half season's worth of racing and is looking reliable," said A1GP general manager, technical and operations, John Wickham.
"There has been a number of small issues, which is to be expected from a completely new package, but there is nothing we can't resolve in the coming tests so we're happy with the current progress."
With the development programme moving forward positively, the car will be back out at Jerez in a couple of weeks before testing moves to France later this month. The teams are expected to get their first test at Silverstone in August.
Meanwhile, A1 Team.NZL is looking forward to the new title chase and is keener to win the championship after two years in the runner-up spot.
All of last season's sponsors are back on board with some increasing their commitment to the cause.
"Sponsors including Fischer & Paykel have signed up for another three years," said team spokesman Bob McMurray.
"In these economic times it's hard to get sponsorship but in worldwide terms Fisher & Paykel feel it's quite good as they have plants in various parts of the world A1 goes to."
The New Zealand team hasn't decided on a driver line-up yet as many are committed to various series both in Europe and America.
"Jonny Reid is high on the list if not No 1 as is Chris van der Drift," said McMurray. Van der Drift is doing very well in his Formula Masters series, in fact he's leading the championship, which is not unlike driving an A1 car."
At this time of year the drivers are unsure as to their commitments come September when the series gets under way at Mugello.
But Reid should have finished his IndyCar duties early in the month and van der Drift will already be in Europe racing on many of the circuits on which the A1GP competes.