Rossi to support British appeal at WRC rally appearance

`Children in Need´ logo to be displayed on 2008 MotoGP World Champion´s Ford Focus car.

MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi´s moonlighting as a rally driver in the coming month will benefit more than just the Italian, with the Fiat Yamaha rider using the attention directed his way to show his support for a charity appeal.

Rossi´s Ford Focus RS World Rally Car, co-driven by Carlo Cassina and set to be used by the duo on December 4th-7th´s Wales Rally GB, will sport the `Pudsey Bear´ logo of the the BBC´s Children in Need appeal, with the intention of drumming up more support two weeks before the British telethon.

The design will be placed on the wing of Rossi´s car, which can also be expected to receive some distinctive livery additions in the flamboyant star´s customary style. Before he races through the forests of Wales, however, the 29 year-old will be warming up with his annual participation in the Monza Rally, in which he will compete against the likes of teammate Jorge Lorenzo, 250cc World Champion Marco Simoncelli and his father, Graziano Rossi, on four wheels. That event takes place next weekend in Italy.