22 Sept 2012

Valentino Rossi goes motor racing - in a Ferrari 458 Italia

Valentino Rossi is entered in this weekend's Nürburgring round of the Blancpain Endurance Series.

Vale himself tweeted - Since we had nothing to do and there are only 5 races in the next seven weeks we came to the Nurburgring

Valentino is driving a Ferrari 458 Italia in a special VR46 livery.  The car is run by the Kessel Racing team.  He shares the 458 with fellow Italians Alessio Salucci and Andrea Ceccato.

The Blancpain Endurance Series features 3 hour races for GT3 and GT4 cars.  They race at Monza (which Rossi also entered), Silverstone, Paul Ricard, Spa-Francorchamps, Nürburgring and Navarra.

Qualifying takes place at 9.40am CET with the race starting at 2.30pm.

The number 46 Kessel Racing car of Rossi, Salucci and Ceccato was 15th in free practice - out of a field of 45 cars.

Valentino also tweeted - What a thrill boys, we drove the old Nurburgring truly amazing, like being on a roller coaster...That emotion ... I hope that the experience will help me in Gran Turismo.