Rossi set for latest Ferrari test drive

2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will be back behind the wheel of a Ferrari Formula 1 car before the end of the month, taking part in a private test at Mugello as reward for his title victory. Italian news agency ANSA report that the Fiat Yamaha rider will be using the F2008 car, as ridden by regular drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen in races this year.

The test will take place next Thursday and Friday (November 20th-21st), less than a week before Rossi returns to the more familiar world of two wheels for the MotoGP Official Test in Jerez.

Rossi´s previous outings in the cockpit have included two appearances at Ferrari´s Fiorano test track, one at the Mugello circuit where he has dominated in MotoGP, and an Official Formula 1 test appearance at Valencia. The latter, held in February of 2006, saw the MotoGP star lapping at little over half-a-second slower than times recorded by the then-active Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. He had driven faster than some of the series´regulars on the opening day.

Whilst previous tests were carried out as an informal trial of sorts, to assess Rossi´s aptitude for car racing with a possible view to a switch in disciplines, this latest run is strictly for fun. The Italian will also be indulging another of his interests, rally driving, when he participates in this weekend´s Monza Rally and the British round of the WRC series next month.