Thursday 2 February at 06:35 : Feb.2 (GMM) Snow looks set to spoil the scheduled debut on Friday of Ferrari's 2012 car.

The Italian team had intended to give its new single seater a shakedown debut after its covers are pulled off at Maranello on Friday, or on the following day.

But on Wednesday, surrounding schools were closed for the rest of the week and Ferrari's Fiorano test track is shrouded in snow, with the team announcing there is "no sign of a let up" in the weather.

Ferrari also said temperatures are dropping well below zero, ensuring "icy roads".

"It now looks as though there is little chance of carrying out the planned promotional filming featuring action shots of the car at the Fiorano track," said the team.

"Even if the snow was to stop it's hard to imagine that the escape roads could be cleared of their blanket of snow which is gradually building up."

A spokesman added, however, that work to set up the infrastructure to host the launch ceremony at Fiorano "is still going ahead, even if it is not proving straightforward".

Team boss Stefano Domenicali said recently the Ferrari launch event will be "very conventional".

The car is now likely to make its debut alongside its 2012 rivals at Jerez next week.