Schumacher takes part in first Ferrari tests

ROME: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher was back testing a racing car just 48 hours after announcing his shock return to Formula One racing.

Schumacher, who retired in 2006, tested the Ferrari F2007 at the famous Mugello track near Florence.

The 40-year-old German is due to take part in the European Grand Prix in Valencia on August 23 as a replacement for Brazilian Felipe Massa, who was seriously injured in a freak accident during qualifying for last weekend''s Hungarian Grand prix in Budapest.

F1 testing rules do not allow a driver to practise in the car that will race at a Grand Prix before the beginning of practice at that GP.

It means Schumacher can not yet get behind the wheel of Ferrari''s F60 and has instead been testing the car with which team-mate Kimi Raikonnen became world champion two years ago.