Ferrari staff are never lacking in confidence, but after Kimi Raikkonen clinched the constructor’s title for them (and the driver’s for himself) by unexpectedly winning the 2007 Brazilian Grand Prix, they seemed to be purring even louder than usual this week.

The timing couldn’t have been better — it made a perfect backdrop (it actually was written on the stand walls) for the Asian launch of the extra-sporty race-derived F430 Scuderia, a car that was developed by a team including former F1 champion Michael Schumacher.

Ferrari noted the interest of Japanese journalists in the car’s launch event and commented on the importance of the Asian markets, where they plan to sell 1,000 cars this year, including 350 in Japan, making it the fifth largest Ferrari market  — and that’s not counting the many enthusiasts who own classics.

Described as “an extremely high performance berlinetta brimming with Formula-1 technology,” the F430 Scuderia is rocketed from 0-100 km/h (62 mph) in just 3.6 seconds by its 510-horsepower V8. With its up-rated engine, carbon ceramic brakes, F1-derived “superfast” sequential gearbox, revised styling and aerodynamics, including a modified rear diffuser, new exhaust system and a unique electronically controlled differential, this is a serious reworking of the F430 designed for “Ferrari’s sportiest and most passionate clients.”

All this, we are told, makes it as fast as the Enzo around the company’s test track — but we can’t help but notice that, as we said at Frankfurt, it’s still essentially another reworking of Ferrari’s entry-level V8 coupe.

But if that puts you off, you don’t have far to look — it may have taken centre stage, but the Scuderia was flanked on the stand by the 612 Scaglietti, the prancing horse’s luxurious flagship V12 model, and the 599, its most powerful ever V12 powered coupe.

Kimi Raikkonen might not be Formula 1’s most charismatic character, but he delivered the goods this time, and you have to admit that a bit of that championship magic probably has rubbed off on these sumptuous, high-strung cars.