New Ferrari Builds On '98 Record.

Ferrari has unveiled its 1999 challenger, claiming that the new car is evolutionary rather than revolutionary and aiming to build on the successful record of last season.


Although the F300 failed to secure either the drivers' or constructors' crowns for the Italian team, it did achieve a remarkable reliability record, and it is this that Ferrari hope to emulate with the new F399. The latest car is based on the '98 design, but features several revisions and innovations. The most dramatic of these is the introduction of an electronic power steering system, designed to improve the drivers' feel for the car, while both suspension and engine have also received attention from the engineers at Maranello.


(The F399 is an evolved model with many innovations,) confirmed Ferrari technical director Ross Brawn. (The integration between chassis and engine, and the relation with the new technical partners - in particular with Bridgestone - were crucial in the design stage, and we made important changes to the original project on the basis of the results of tests carried out at Suzuka last November.)


The F399's designer, Rory Byrne, was on hand at the launch to elucidate further on some of the changes which, despite the evolutionary nature of the car, were in fact all new. (We've improved aerodynamic efficiency and stability,) he said, (but, most importantly, we've worked on enhancing all its components and have managed to reduce the total weight by about 20kg.)


(The engine air vents, diffuser, rear aerodynamics and front suspension are all new,) the former Benetton man revealed. (The car's centre of gravity has been lowered and the power steering is now controlled electronically.)


Despite the late arrival of the new car, Ferrari are fervently hoping to improve on the results of last season, when Michael Schumacher finished as runner-up to McLaren's Mika Hakkinen. The German refused to be drawn on his 1999 chances, however, stating only that he had "a fifty per cent chance of winning the championship". Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo was also more restrained this season, vowing only to "make an even greater effort than in the past" and hoping that the days of losing the title at the last race were over. Schumacher's team-mate Eddie Irvine was more bullish, however, stating that his main aim was to win races in 1999.


The new car is expected to be run in anger for the first time at Fiorano this week, with a rigorous test schedule planned between now and the first race at Melbourne in March.