Snow hits Ferrari F1 plans posted in F102 | 02 | 2012

NO, THIS ISN'T Knockhill in the snow: it's Ferrari's test track at Fiorano in Italy. And the thick white stuff has ruined Ferrari's plan to have a media-festooned launch event for its new car at the circuit tomorrow.

While drivers Fernando Alonso (watch our interview with the double world champ) and Felipe Massa completed their pre-season fitness programme in the sun in Lanzarote, Ferrari HQ at Maranello was hit by heavy snow.

Initially the team cancelled a film shoot for the car which was scheduled to take place immediately after the unveiling tomorrow. But as the snow continued to fall heavily this morning, the team was forced to cancel the actual launch ceremony on safety grounds.

"It's still snowing heavily here in Maranello," a Ferrari F1 spokesman explained today. "Because of that the launch ceremony of the new F1 car has been cancelled." Instead the launch event will now be broadcast live on the team's website.

And just how bad is it? Well Maranello local authorities, plus those surrounding it — which includes Modena — have closed all schools until this Saturday.

Forecasters predict the snow will continue throughout today, with temperatures then set to plummet to -10º.

And people say Scotland's cold!

Scots F1 ace Paul di Resta: Exciting times

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Jim McGill