Gene' moves to Ferrari test role

same thoughts i had....cant you just hear todt now...'fewer testing days? ok double the test team. and while your at it get somebody with about 15 million michelin miles'

mission accomplished. ferrari 1, rest of field -1

 

DC sees his chances for a F1 seat drifting away.

 

Yeah, I can just see Gene sitting there going, "Williams or Ferrari? Williams? Ferrari! FERRARI! Pinch me to make sure I'm not dreaming!"

Jim

 

Yeah, it must be like X-mas and birthday wrapped into one for him.

And as others said, Ferrari gets the Michelin and BMW inside view for free. However they don't get much more than that. I'm no big Gene fan and frankly would have thought that DC would have made for a better test driver (who would also have brought the Michelin experience and the Merc view).

 

Maybe DC will be test driver for Williams now or the third test driver for Ferrari .

I think Gene will help Bridgestone with improving the only two weaknesses compared to Michelin:
- Sluggish performance on cold tires
- Low grip on slick surfaces with dry tires

 

Here are a few pix showing the 05 spec front wing vs 04 spec front wing

Badoer testing with 05 front wing
http://images.f1racing.net/large/37519.jpg

Gene testing with 04 front wing
http://images.f1racing.net/large/37510.jpg

note the ride height difference
http://www.f1total.com/bilder/2004/tests/04barc04/z060.jpg

 

Wow, that was fast, Gene already in the Ferrari. Amazing.

 

If somebody could post pictures of Gene's helmet as a Ferrari driver, I'd appreciate that. I'm trying to paint one of my model cars accordingly.

Gene changed the helmet design btw now that he is with Ferrari.

 

Here is another angle so you can get a better look at Genes helmut
http://www.f1total.com/bilder/2004/tests/04barc04/z006.jpg

 

Thanks. I'm really looking for one of the back part of the helmet. There is a whitle diagonal line, but I don't know what's behind that.

 

The circuit of Catalunya is located few miles from home so I went there to live the emotive moment when my Catalan pal Marc Genè emerged from SF box wearing the smart scarlet livery of Maranello for first time to stop the watch before his illustre adversaries and just 6/10 of sec. further on than MS lap record earlier this year .
At the end of the session he looked calm as usual but he actually was very thrilled with the driving experience. He commented that wearing red overalls was a dream come true and admited the cavallino was faster and easier to drive than his previous horse. Has found the team organisation similar to is former employer and the workforce very friendly although much louder, as one expects from a Italian scuderia.

 

Muchas gracias for this first hand report and bienvenido al Ferrarichat!

 

Here's another one:

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net
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Pic
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That's an interesting shot: It shows that the sponsors haven't been painted on, but are just decals. I guess time was of the essence.