The 34-year-old, a former University of Buckingham graduate, announced the deal during the recent Grand Prix weekend in Singapore, saying: "I have been asked by Ferrari to continue with them for 2009. Luca Badoer will also be continuing alongside me and we are being tasked with developing the new 2009 F1 upgrades."

Gene has spent his 2008 season either testing for Ferrari or racing for Peugeot in the Le Mans Series. He added: "Racing for Peugeot has allowed me to stay 'match fit'. You can't beat the thrill of racing, but it is a great honour to test for Ferrari. Every time I pull on a set of red Ferrari overalls I realise how lucky I am to be in this position."

The Singapore Grand Prix was not a good weekend for the Scuderia, and Gene said: "Yes, Singapore was not a good weekend for the team, but Felipe Massa is only seven points behind Lewis Hamilton with three rounds of the championship remaining."

The Ginetta name will make its debut in the American Le Mans Series at Road Atlanta when Thornborough's Danny Watts is set to drive the Team LNT-entered Ginetta-Zytek 07S.

Formed 50 years ago, Ginetta have recently taken joint-ownership of the Zytek team, and have rebranded the company's Le Mans prototype ahead of the Petit Le Mans event – the feature race in the 2008 American Le Mans Series. Watts will lead the driver line-up in the race, with the car contesting the LMP1 category.

The Poundon-based Creation Autosportif team have two cars entered for the race. The Aim-powered machines will be driven by Jamie Campbell-Walter, Liz Halliday and Stephen Simpson.