Schu to test alongside Raikkonen on Monday

Michael Schumacher

(GMM) Michael Schumacher will make his debut at the wheel of Ferrari's 2008 contender at the final group test of the pre-season in Spain next week.

We have learned that the 39-year-old German, who retired from competition at the end of 2006, is scheduled to run in the F2008 on Monday, as reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen circulates in another of the Maranello based team's Melbourne-spec single seaters at Barcelona.

It will be the first time that the two famous drivers have gone head-to-head in the same car at the same circuit, and the occasion is therefore certain to draw much attention in the racing world.

Schumacher, 39, is scheduled to hand over the F2008 to Raikkonen's current teammate Felipe Massa for the other two days of the test at Montmelo, a municipality north of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain.

In recent months, the German has previously tested for Ferrari at Barcelona and Jerez.

Meanwhile, at the Circuit de Catalunya on Friday (today), Ferrari is exclusively conducting a full race simulation, with Massa and official test driver Luca Badoer in command of the cars.