Massa drives in charity kart race

The Karting event took place in Florianopolis in Brazil

Ferrari's Felipe Massa has returned to racing for the first time since his life-threatening accident last season.

The Brazilian driver finished third in a charity karting event won by Michael Schumacher in southern Brazil.

Massa was hosting the "International Challenge of the Stars" - an event that raises money for local charities - for the fifth successive year.

The 28-year-old suffered a fractured skull in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix in July.

At the time of the accident there were fears that Massa could have suffered loss of vision.

606: DEBATE How will Massa do in 2010?

Veteran F1 driver Rubens Barrichello, whose spring flew off the former Brawn driver's car to hit Massa in Hungary, also took part in the charity kart race.

Massa, who has had plastic surgery on his injury, is not due to return to F1 until next year.

Ferrari hired Italian Giancarlo Fisichella to replace Massa for the final five races of this season after a neck problem prevented seven-time F1 champion Schumacher from driving in his place.