Newly crowned MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner swapped his usual two wheels for four today as he got behind the wheel of the breathtaking Alfa 8C Competizione for a high speed test session around Alfa Romeo's private proving ground at Balocco.

The young Australian sensationally rode to the 2007 MotoGP title on a Ducati Desmosedici GP7 during his first season with the Italian factory team. Alfa Romeo meanwhile has been an 'Official Sponsor' of Ducati Corse in 2006 and 2007 (the MotoGP bikes carry Alfa Romeo decals and the carmaker supplies cars to the team), while Stoner himself drives an Alfa Brera 3.2 V6 which he recently collected from the Mirafiori Motor Village in Turin.

Stoner spent some time testing the sensational 4.7-litre V8 engined sportscar around the high speed straights and very demanding curves of Alfa Romeo's historic private test track at Balocco. He declared himself highly impressed by the Alfa Centre Stile-designed car which was styled to evoke memories of legendary Alfa Romeo cars: "Indeed extraordinary," he enthused. "The Alfa 8C Competition is the best automobile that I have ever tried."

First shown in concept form to rave reviews at the Frankfurt IAA in 2003, just 500 units of the Alfa 8C Competizione are now being built. The surprise announcement was made last summer and it was shown in final production format at the Paris Motor Show just over a year ago. The car's new 4691cc 90 degree V8 engine develops 450 CV at 7,000 rpm and 470 Nm of torque at 4,750 rpm and is mated to a 6-speed gearbox. It is being built at the Maserati factory in Modena.