Schumacher continues Ferrari testing

(GMM) Michael Schumacher is to return to the wheel of a two-year-old Ferrari this week as he continues preparations for his F1 return.

Ahead of his scheduled comeback at Valencia later this month, the 40-year-old German will test the F2007 at Ferrari's own Mugello circuit in Italy on Tuesday and Wednesday, his spokeswoman Sabine Kehm told the Associated Press.

A little over a week ago, Schumacher lapped the circuit near Florence nearly 70 times in the same car. Sidestepping the total in-season testing ban, the car is privately owned and run by Ferrari's separate F1 Clienti department.

Ferrari's efforts to gain an exemption from the ban, so that Schumacher may test injured Felipe Massa's 2009 car, were thwarted by the vetoes of the Williams and Red Bull teams.