No KERS testing for Ferrari until 2009

(GMM) Aldo Costa, Ferrari's technical director, has singled out "the famous KERS" as the most challenging aspect of the 2009 regulations.

"It has to be compact and lightweight, affecting the handling of the car as little as possible," he told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Costa reveals that, to date, Ferrari has not track-tested its KERS system for 2009, and the debut of the energy-recovery technology is not due to arrive this week at Jerez or at the final test of the year at Portugal's new Algarve track.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport reports that Ferrari and electronics partner Magneti Marelli's main problem is with the electric motor.

Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni confirmed: "We will begin testing KERS with our new car."

The F2009 is scheduled to roll out in January, and it is understood that Ferrari has not decided whether to target the first race of the 2009 season for the system's debut.