By Brian Bielanski
(RacingWire) – Ferrari's new entry into the Grand-Am Rolex Series GT class turned its first wheel at Daytona International Speedway on Tuesday.

The new Ferrari F458 Italia ran it's first test on the Daytona's 3.56-mile road course with Ferrari factory driver Jamie Melo behind the wheel and under the watchful eye of the Prancing Horse's engineers.

Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale is the first team to commit to running the new car in the Rolex Series.

“This was a two-year project, and to finally be out here on the track at Daytona is really great,” said Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale team principal Ronnie Vogel. “So far, so good – the test is going great. Now, we’re going to continue to dial it in.”

“The car is absolutely spectacular,” said Mark Raffauf, Grand-Am managing director of competition. “To have a Ferrari made specifically for the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Grand-Am Rolex Series is really important and sets the groundwork for a lot of other relationships.”

“The big significance for this car is that it was conceived and produced by Ferrari and built specifically for the Rolex Series,” Raffauf said. “This car comes here straight from Maranello, Italy, right from Ferrari, and it’s also significant that this is really a Grand-Am car.”

Series officials hope to have four to six Ferrari's take the green flag at the 50th anniversay Rolex 24 in January.

2008 Rolex 24 GT class winner Raphael Matos also turned a few laps in the Tuesday test.

Wednesday's test session is free and open to the public. For free access to the test go through the lobby of the DIS ticket office.