Schumacher curtails Ferrari California dreamin’

Occasionally outspoken ex-Formula One great Michael Schumacher might have hung up his everyday garish Lycra boiler suit and racing plimsolls, but that hasn’t stopped him putting the boot in and all the way down on the all-new Ferrari California Grand Tourer to determine just what it can do.

Schumacher has been quietly – well, as peacefully as one can in a 460bhp, 4.3-litre V8 supercar – going about his business of testing the £150K Ferrari in recent months, whilst motor racing has been obsessing over new golden boy Lewis Hamilton and the insalubrious shenanigans of F1 supremo and would-be porn star, Max Mosley.

His expertise was called upon again as the new California enters the crucial track and road stages of its ongoing development, ahead of its official public airing at the Paris International Motor Show in October this year.

Seven times F1 champion Schooey has been close at hand from the California’s inception, and has worked alongside Ferrari’s engineers, technicians and test-pilots during every pivotal juncture of its coming together, being of particular worth when optimising its performance limitations.

"I have to say that, as with the 430 Scuderia, participating in the project since the very beginning has been really fascinating and great fun,” he boomed. “Although the cars are very different, they both offer absolutely unique driving pleasure because of the inherently sporty character of all of the cars that come out of Maranello.”

"The 430 Scuderia is, of course, a more extreme model with a focus on absolutely cutting-edge performance. However, although the Ferrari California is very much a Grand Tourer in terms of its usability and high level of interior comfort, it is still surprisingly sporty and fun to drive under any kind of conditions.” He added as the PR firm charged with selling the latest prancing horse looked on in disbelief.

He was even called upon to lend weight – if not height – to a Ferrari dealer’s seminar in Maranello of late, where he set about describing and explaining the core differences between the 8-cylinder power plant afforded the new, upcoming California supercar, and the example found in the 430 Scuderia.

"They were designed to meet different requirements: the 430 Scuderia is aimed at drivers who want the very essence of a Ferrari and will get it out on the track as often as they can. The Ferrari California, on the other hand, is designed for everyday use and for weekends away whilst still guaranteeing all of the emotional impact that only an authentic Ferrari can deliver.” More or less summed things up between PowerPoint presentations and refreshments.

It’s been said that Schumacher’s involvement in the Ferrari California project has brought about its sub-4 second acceleration time to 62mph, which is not something that many people can claim. Unless you’re Jay Kay after a sniff of the scrumpy.