Nine-time world
motorcycle champion Valentino Rossi will compete in the
opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza
on 13-15 April at the wheel of a Ferrari.
The Italian, who is nicknamed ‘Il Doctore’ (The Doctor),
will race with the famous Number 46 on his Ferrari 458
Italia for the Kessel Racing team in the VR46-Monster
colours. He will be partnered by Alessio Salucci in the
Pro-Am Cup class.
"We really decided on the last minute to participate in
the Blancpain Endurance Series event in Monza and to
race in partnership with my friend Uccio is a very big
pleasure,” Rossi said.
It's a
surprise decision and Rossi's sports car appearance will
come just a week after the 2012 MotoGP season gets
underway (the Qatar Grand Prix will kick off the new
season tomorrow) and the additional focus implies the
Italian already believes that the troublesome Ducati
isn't going to carry him towards another world title
this season. Yesterday's free practice sessions at the
Losail circuit don't bode well as he was only eighth
quickest, 1.2 seconds off former team mate Jorge
Lorenzo's top time. Rossi arrived in Qatar last week to start
his second season with the Ducati team after a torrid 2011
which brought nothing but dismal results on track. The Italian bike
rider has in the past often taken part in close season four wheel
drive events, and has regularly contested end of the
year rallies, but always once the bike season focus had
come to a conclusion.
Stephane Ratel, Founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports
Group, the promoters of the Blancpain Endurance Series,
is delighted to welcome Rossi to Monza and to GT racing.
“For many years I have been saying that from all of the
world-class drivers and riders, the one I would most
like to welcome in GT racing is Valentino Rossi,” Ratel
said.
“He is the ultimate motorsport hero and we must hope he
will consider joining our championships on a more
regular manner at some point in his outstanding career. At Monza, in a Ferrari, we could not have expected a
better combination to make the event a success. Welcome
Valentino.”
The first round of the 2012 season will feature an entry
list of sixty sports cars from eleven brands – Audi,
Aston Martin, BMW, Dodge, Ferrari, Jaguar, Lamborghini,
McLaren, Mercedes, Nissan and Porsche.
Rossi will be up against a host of famous names
including Le Mans 24 Hour winner David Brabham, former
Formula One stars Mark Blundell and Karl Wendlinger
along with several sports car and endurance specialists.
The event programme includes Pre-qualifying on Friday, qualifying on Saturday ahead of the three-hour
race
starting at 14:15 local time on Sunday.
Meanwhile the Ferrari challenge in this season's
Blancpain Endurance Series is set to be bolstered as
the crack AF Corse outfit is strengthening its
presence by fielding four Ferrari 458 Italia GT3s.
The crews will comprise of Gaetano Ardagna Perez (VEN),
Giuseppe Cirò (ITA) and Daniel Brown (GBR); Jack
Gerber (SA), Marco Cioci (ITA); Yannick Mallegol (FRA),
Jean-Marc Bachelier (FRA) and Howard Blanc (USA);
Niek Hommerson (DEU), Louis Machiels (BEL) with the
third driver to be announced shortly.
“The
Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 is a great car, very
competitive from its debuts in 2011," says Amato
Ferrari, team principal of AF Corse. "During the
winter, this car has been improved further and will
be great protagonist of the Blancpain together our
drivers."
