Vale's Rally's

Rossi, Lorenzo and De Angelis sign up for Monza Rally

Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Three MotoGP riders, plus other faces from the World Championship paddock, will be racing in the latest edition of the Monza Rally Show race.
ROSSI RALLY

The annual Monza Rally Show, held in Italy, will see three premier class riders competing against each other for the last time this season. This time, however, the action will be on four wheels rather than two.



2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will be making his customary appearance alongside Carlo Cassina as he pits his skills against Fiat Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo and San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Alex de Angelis. The latter two will be behind the wheel of a Fiat Punto and Subaru Impreza, respectively.

Also upping the MotoGP representation is 250cc World Champion elect Marco Simoncelli, quarter-litre competitor Fabrizio Lai and Ducati test rider Vittoriano Guareschi.

Rossi´s father, Graziano, will be competing, in addition to his permanent sidekick `Uccio´s making his own assault on the victory.

The Monza Rally Show takes place from November 14th-16th in the city´s autodrome, with around fifty names on the entry list.
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Ohh great to hear..
Will we have more news on that?
Is it broadcast on Eurosport?

Don't think so, the rally he is doing in England will though, the WRC.

I was going to go to Wales for the Rally GB but have decided can't afford in the run up to Christmas !

Rossi adds two wheels to rally with the best
Email Printer friendly version Normal font Large font Sapporo, Japan
November 2, 2008

REIGNING MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi will switch to four wheels to take part in next month's Rally of Britain, a spokesman for the Italian said yesterday.

The eight-time motorcycling champion, who has competed in two rallies, will face his four-wheeled nemesis Sebastian Loeb, who is on course to win his fifth WRC title at this weekend's Rally of Japan.

Rossi, the son of a keen amateur rally driver, raced in the 2002 Rally of Britain in a Peugeot 206, and four years later placed a respectable 11th in a Subaru in the New Zealand edition.

The motor-mad Rossi has also competed in two formula one grands prix with Ferrari.

The Italian ace wrapped up his eighth MotoGP title in September, after beating Australian defending champion Casey Stoner in the Japanese GP.

Reigning WRC champion Loeb trailed Finnish rival Mikko Hirvonen in the opening special stages of the Rally of Japan on Friday, but with a 14-point lead the Frenchman only needed to place third to win the championship.

Stoner, meanwhile, has had a successful operation to his left wrist, according to a statement from the Australian's team Ducati yesterday.

Stoner had surgery in a hospital in Modena, Italy, on Thursday.

The Australian, who won the season-ending Valencia GP last weekend, was discharged yesterday, and returned to his home in Switzerland to recover.AFP

Vale to Rally for Children In Need:

Six time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will support the BBC's Children in Need appeal when he takes part in December's Wales Rally GB.

The Italian's M-Sport-developed Ford Focus will carry Children in Need logos during the season-ending round of the 2008 World Rally Championship. The event takes place two weeks after the nationally-televised BBC Children in Need event and the charity will be using Rossi's involvement to lead one final push for donations.

"This is really exciting news. I'm looking forward to Wales Rally GB - and am hoping for a good result at next weekend's Monza Rally in order to prepare for the forests," said Rossi. "I'm also delighted to be supporting BBC Children in Need, which does such vital work in the UK. It's a great charity and one I'm very pleased to be involved in."


"It's a tremendous honour to have Valentino Rossi promoting BBC Children in Need," said Children in Need spokesman Marc Phillips. "We have had a remarkable response to this year's event on November 14th - and Wales Rally GB will be a fabulous final flourish for us. With a charity auction being held at the Service Park on the Friday night and volunteers collecting throughout the rally, it will be an important few days for us."

Rossi hasn't taken part in Rally GB since an ill-fated outing in 2002, but finished an impressive eleventh in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand.

"We're delighted to welcome Valentino Rossi to this year's Wales Rally GB," said Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser International Motor Sports Ltd. "He is a supreme ambassador for all forms of motor sport, as well as a remarkably-gifted sportsman. We look forward to seeing him take on the challenges of the Welsh forests."

Wales Rally GB takes place on December 4-7.

Rossi and Stobart team up for Children in Need.
Fri 14 Nov, 10:16 AM



Stobart will support Valentino Rossi's run for Children In Need on the Wales Rally GB next month.

Valentino Rossi and Stobart Motorsport will join forces next month for the Wales Rally GB in a bid to raise funds for Children in Need.

The Italian, who won the MotoGP title for the sixth time this year, will drive a Ford Focus RS with full Stobart livery and it will also incorporate the Children in Need logo and mascot Pudsey Bear.

A statement to the press read:

"In an effort to increase charitable donations for the Children in Need appeal the Stobart team are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to one lucky person by putting up for auction a priceless item within the realms of world motorsport.

"In keeping with all Eddie Stobart trucks, and the team's other rally cars, the MotoGP star will sport a girl's name on the front of his car; and the choice of name will go the highest bidder in a charity auction.

"After the event, the name will then be transferred to one of the 1850 Eddie Stobart trucks where it will be cemented in the history books of the trucking Superbrand.

"The winner will also receive Stobart VIP hospitality for the event."

The auction will run from today [Friday November 14] until Friday 21 November and details on how to place a bid can be found at: www.stobartmotorsport.com.

"We are very excited to have Valentino driving a Stobart car on Wales Rally GB and its only right that the company does its bit to help raise money for the Children in Need charity which he is driving for," said Stobart Group CEO Andrew Tinkler.

"I am a great fan of Valentino's and it will be a massive compliment to have our brand on his car and it will really bring a lot of excitement to the whole team next month in Wales."

Rossi's outing in Wales meanwhile will be his third in the World Rally Championship, and while his first with a Michelin-backed Peugeot 206 WRC on the 2002 Rally GB didn't go well - he crashed out just 17 kilometres in - a run in New Zealand four years later was much more successful.

Indeed the seven-time world champion steered a Subaru Impreza WRC from 24th, to 13th and then 11th over the three days, setting a best stage time of seventh in the process.

"If two wheels are the big love of my life, 4 wheels, and especially rally cars, are surely my big passion!" said Rossi. "Having the chance to race at the Wales Rally GB and having, at the same time, the possibility to raise funds for Children in Need is something really special and I am very proud and happy. I cannot wait to be in the car and to have a lot of fun!"

The 29-year-old will be co-driven by Carlo Cassina, who has contested 24 WRC events in his career. Cassina's resume includes one victory on Rally Portugal in 1988 beside the last and only Italian to win the World Rally Championship for drivers, Miki Biasion.

Rossi finishes runner-up in Monza Rally


Italian places second in both overall classification and Master Stage of weekend event.

2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was for once a runner-up this past weekend, taking second place in the annual Monza Rally event. Behind the wheel of a Ford Focus and ably assisted by regular navigator Carlo Cassina, the Italian lost out to the combination of Rinaldo Capello and Luigi Pirollo in the star-studded car contest.

Rossi and Cassina also took the second spot in the `Master Show´ special stage, losing to Piero Longhi and Luca Cassol in the head-to-head final.

The MotoGP titlist was by far the most successful two-wheel competitor to take part in the event, with 250cc World Champion Marco Simoncelli the second highest placing in 27th. Taking to the track after a season in the Fiat Yamaha garage, Roberto and Davide Brivio were just behind Simoncelli.

Rossi´s regular teammate Jorge Lorenzo made his rally debut alongside his own Team Manager, Daniele Romagnoli. Contrary to his expectations of a low placing, Lorenzo came home a respectable 38th, using a Fiat Punto adorned with his soon-to-be-retired number 48.

Alex de Angelis rounded off the list of MotoGP riders making an appearance, finishing 41st.

Besides being an entertaining diversion for Rossi, the Monza Rally also served as preparation for his participation in the Rally GB stage of the World Rally Championship, which takes place on the 4th-7th of December. Before that, the six-time MotoGP World Champion has tests with Ferrari and a return to his day job at the end of the month.



i dont know if this is the car that he drove this time but its the only pic i have of him in the cars

Rossi finishes runner-up in Monza Rally
Monday, 17 November 2008

Italian places second in both overall classification and Master Stage of weekend event.




2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was for once a runner-up this past weekend, taking second place in the annual Monza Rally event. Behind the wheel of a Ford Focus and ably assisted by regular navigator Carlo Cassina, the Italian lost out to the combination of Rinaldo Capello and Luigi Pirollo in the star-studded car contest.

Rossi and Cassina also took the second spot in the `Master Show´ special stage, losing to Piero Longhi and Luca Cassol in the head-to-head final.

The MotoGP titlist was by far the most successful two-wheel competitor to take part in the event, with 250cc World Champion Marco Simoncelli the second highest placing in 27th. Taking to the track after a season in the Fiat Yamaha garage, Roberto and Davide Brivio were just behind Simoncelli.

Rossi´s regular teammate Jorge Lorenzo made his rally debut alongside his own Team Manager, Daniele Romagnoli. Contrary to his expectations of a low placing, Lorenzo came home a respectable 38th, using a Fiat Punto adorned with his soon-to-be-retired number 48.

Alex de Angelis rounded off the list of MotoGP riders making an appearance, finishing 41st.

Besides being an entertaining diversion for Rossi, the Monza Rally also served as preparation for his participation in the Rally GB stage of the World Rally Championship, which takes place on the 4th-7th of December. Before that, the six-time MotoGP World Champion has tests with Ferrari and a return to his day job at the end of the month.

MotoGP star Rossi gives a rallying cry as he gets back in the fast-chance saloon by JERRY WILLIAMS
Last updated at 12:38 AM on 04th December 2008

Valentino Rossi, MotoGP's irrepressible 'clown prince', sent his legions of fans wild a month ago when he won his sixth championship.

Now the charismatic Italian briefly turns away from his £20million-a-year career for another crack at the sport he calls 'my hobby, my passion' - rallying.

Tomorrow, 'The Doctor' swaps the mild winter temperatures of Italy for the forests of South and mid-Wales as he again takes on the challenge of Rally GB.


He will drive a state-of-the-art £500,000 Ford Focus run by Malcolm Wilson's M-Sport, Ford's official world rally team, and has his heart set on a top 10 finish.

After testing the car near Wilson's Cumbria base he said: 'My first target is to finish. It's a long time since I've driven in mud. If two wheels are the big love of my life then four wheels, and especially rally cars, are surely my big passion.

'Having the chance to race at Rally GB is special and I cannot wait to be in the car and to have a lot of fun.

'The car is very fast and the engine pushes a lot so I had a good feeling from the beginning.'

Wilson said: 'Having a six-time world champion in the team is fantastic for the rally. Hopefully, he can attract some of his bike fans and I think if conditions stay dry a top 10 finish is definitely within his reach.'

Rossi has not ruled out more rallying in the future. 'I think it is possible when I finish with bikes,' he said.

World champion Sebastien Loeb will have his eye on a record. Having already secured his record fifth world title, Citroen's French ace knows that victory will give him 11 wins in the 15-round season, beating the 10 successes he had in 2005. It would also mean he has won every event on the calendar.

Two rivals who will be out to stop him are Ford stars Mikko Hirvonen and Jari-Matti Latvala. The Finnish pair must finish first and second for team boss Wilson to have any chance of carrying off a third manufacturers' title in a row.

The rally attempts to regain some of its old popularity by breaking out of its South Wales bunker. For the first time since 1999 the event will venture for a day into mid-Wales, bringing the action closer to Birmingham and the West Midlands.

It is a brave move because the last time the area was used it resulted in gridlock on the A44, paralysing the rally for several hours.

MotoGP » PICTURES: Valentino Rossi at Rally GB.
Thursday, 4th December 2008

Pictures of MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi in action during Wales Rally GB shakedown.

The first pictures of reigning six-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi in action during Thursday's shakedown test for Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2008 World Rally Championship, are on Crash.net.

The Italian superstar is driving a Stobart-backed Ford Focus WRC car and also supporting the BBC's Children In Need charity. Rossi's car is being run by M-Sport, which is in charge of Ford's official WRC team as well as the satellite Stobart outfit.

Wales Rally GB marks Rossi's third World Rally Championship appearance. The Italian made his WRC debut in the 2002 edition of Rally GB, but crashed a Michelin-backed Peugeot 206 after just 17 kilometres of the first forest stage.

Rossi's return, in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand, was much more successful; The Doctor steering a Subaru Impreza up from 24th, to 13th and then 11th over the three days, setting a best stage time of seventh in the process.

Rossi is one of 21 competitors driving the premier WRC cars at this weekend's event, which concludes on Sunday. He was a cautious 17th fastest during Thursday's shakedown.

Since the end of his latest title-winning MotoGP season, Rossi has finished second in the asphalt-based Monza Rally, set a creditable pace in a Ferrari F1 car and been fastest of all in the final MotoGP test session of 2008.

Rossi will be back on two wheels during the first test of 2009, at Sepang in Malaysia from February 5-7.

MotoGP » Valentino Rossi - Q&A (Rally GB).
Thursday, 4th December 2008

Q&A with MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi on the eve of his participation in Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2008 World Rally Championship.


Rossi, who is driving a Stobart-backed Ford Focus WRC car in the event, finished 17th fastest during today's shakedown test.

The #46 (pictured with his Fiat Yamaha team manager Davide Brivio) retired from the 2002 Rally GB, but finished eleventh in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand.

The 2008 edition of Wales Rally GB begins on Friday morning...

Q:
Valentino, welcome back to the WRC. The last time we saw you in rally action was New Zealand in 2006, it has been a while! How much are you looking forward to this weekend?

Valentino Rossi:
I am so happy to be here because it is a great rally and first of all I have to thank Ford and Stobart for this opportunity. I drove the car in the forest also with Mathew[Wilson] two weeks ago and it was good and I now have more experience with the car. I will try and get to the end this time and to get more experience.

Q:
How did the recce go? Have you ever competed in conditions like we have here?

VR:
The stages are beautiful – a lot better that in 2002. They are flowing and the corners are faster and wider. For sure the weather conditions, especially with the one tyre rule, will give us a lot of problems with the ice and snow. I will have to go slower and try to control the car better.

Q:
You finished just outside the top ten in New Zealand but the last time you competed here it was an early retirement for you. What are you hoping for here?

VR:
In 2002 here I made a mistake in the second stage but in New Zealand I was clever and started slower and was able to make some good times towards the end and I think I will be like this. I will learn the feeling in the car and hope that the good times will start to come stage by stage.

Q:
How passionate are you about rallying? Could we see you in the WRC full time?

VR:
I have a great passion for it, because after my father had finished racing bikes he started with rallying. I started my career with go-karts before I went for bikes, but the passion remains very high for cars. I have had more experience on this car and realise that to understand the car is very important. I am used to racing on the track where you can get used to getting the perfect line, but here it is different. You have to listen to the co-driver and it is so important to get the right notes in the recce, so I think this is the hardest part of this sport – it's harder than racing a bike on a track. I have just signed for Yamaha for another two seasons, but after that we will see. I am in a good moment in my career right now so after two years I will decide. Maybe it is possible in the future but I am not sure at my level it will be possible.

Q:
I remember when you competed here in 2002 the only thing you didn't really like was the alarm clock going off so early in the morning! We have some really early starts here this time around, are you prepared for that?

VR:
It is like being back at school! I like to sleep a little bit more but I know this is a difficult week for me with a lot of early morning stages - but I am ready.

Q:
How crucial is getting a result in this event when you haven't done many rallies this season? Which is the rally you would most like to do?

VR:
I would really like to do a tarmac rally - like Corsica perhaps. For me now it is impossible because it is in the middle of my racing season. I have a lot less pressure to get a result here so I have a little advantage, but it is not important to win, it is more important to learn the car and get more experience in order to remain at this level.

MotoGP » Rossi 17th in Rally GB shakedown.
Thursday, 4th December 2008

Valentino Rossi 17th fastest during the shakedown test for this weekend's Wales Rally GB.


MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi was ranked 17th fastest out of the 21 WRC-class cars during Thursday's shakedown test for Wales Rally GB.

The Italian, driving a Stobart-backed Ford Focus RS WRC car, completed the 3.90 kilometre test stage in Penllergaer Forest, 18 kilometres north of the service park in Swansea, in a best time of a 2min 41.7sec.

Mikko Hirvonen, driving for the official BP Ford Abu Dhabi team, was fastest of all in a time of 2min 25.6sec, which was 0.9sec faster than Subaru's Petter Solberg.

Rossi's realistic target this weekend is to try and beat his previous best WRC finish of eleventh, in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand. The tenth fastest driver on the shakedown test was Citroen's Sebastien Ogier in a time of 2min 30.6sec.

The ceremonial start of Wales Rally GB, the final round of the 2008 World Rally Championship, takes place today at 18.00 hours in Cardiff. The action then begins on Friday with eight stages, totalling around 124 competitive kilometres.

Rossi's WRC debut, in the 2002 edition of Wales Rally GB, ended on the very first forest stage.

Stage one of the 2008 event, a 19.10 kilometre run through Hafren, begins at 9.08am local time.

MotoGP » Rossi: Rally GB conditions 'unbelievable'.
Friday, 5th December 2008

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has described Friday's opening stages of Wales Rally GB as "the worst rally conditions I've ever driven in" - but has at least avoided a repeat of his early 2002 retirement.

Adverse weather conditions had seen Friday's scheduled action drastically reduced before the day even began - the planned total of 123.68 competitive kilometres being slashed to just 57.04.

That was then reduced further when stage one was cancelled altogether, due to the amount of ice.


The belated action thus began on stage two, Sweet Lamb (4.28km), which Rossi completed in a 45th position, 34.5sec slower than the faster car. Nevertheless, Rossi must have been slightly relieved just to reach the finish, having crashed out on the first forest stage in 2002.

Rossi, driving a Stobart Ford Focus WRC car, then completed the 18.28km third stage in 33rd place, 1min 51.1sec behind the fastest car, moving the Italian up to 34th overall.

"It's just unbelievable!" said Rossi, who finished eleventh overall in much kinder conditions in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand. "There's lots of ice, but, hey, it's still fun! It's the worst rally conditions I've ever driven in... so far!"

The treacherous conditions have helped Citroen's Sebastien Ogier take an unexpected early lead.

Stage four has also been cancelled, leaving four more competitive stages on day one.

From The Times December 5, 2008

Valentino Rossi taking on four-wheel challenge
Rick Broadbent
The multi-tasking sportsman is an easy target. From George Foreman flipping fat-free burgers to Ian Botham's days leading the line at Scunthorpe United, the notion that a hero can spread his genius has long invited cynicism. It has been the same with Valentino Rossi, whose forays into Formula One provoked a snobbish sneer from Fernando Alonso, the two-times world champion in the sport, and whose first attempt to be a crossover rally star ended in a Welsh ditch. Nobody should be deceived, however, because this figure of fun is serious.

Davide Brivio, the manager of the six-times world champion's MotoGP team, confirmed to The Times that Ferrari had wanted to end the flirting and make an honest man of Rossi. “There was the chance for him to drive in GPs with Ferrari in 2007,” Brivio said. “Not as a test driver, no.”

This is the first time Rossi's much-debated role with Ferrari has been defined, but that door is now closed. What it shows is the money-men appreciate Rossi could get off his bike and make a second career on four wheels. It is why all the preamble to the Wales Rally GB, starting early today, has been about whether this 29-year-old maverick will switch to car racing when he hangs up his leathers, comedy stethoscope and blow-up doll-cum-pillion rider.

He has twice won the Monza Rally, albeit he accepts it is “not a real rally” because it is held largely on the motor-racing circuit, and finished eleventh in Rally New Zealand in 2006. In one-off sprints he has beaten a host of rally stars, including one of his heroes, Colin McRae. Today he is wearing a helmet that carries a homage to the late Scot. “It has his flag on it, because he was my friend and one of my heroes,” Rossi said. “I grew up with him and Subaru. This is to remember him in his home rally.”

The thing that is stopping Rossi from pledging himself to the World Rally Championship is not a lack of talent but a renewed love of MotoGP. After five successive titles, the rumours of a move to Ferrari mounted.He then went two years without winning it before regaining it this year. He revealed yesterday: “I think Formula One for me is difficult because I am quite old. Rallying is not impossible, but I have a contract with Yamaha for two more years and I hope that is not my last. If I stay at this level then I still enjoy it. The bike remains my first option and my first passion. My place is over there.”

That sounds unequivocal. Cue groans from four-wheel officials eyeing marketing manna. After his test a fortnight ago at Mugello, where Rossi was 1.5sec slower than Kimi Raikkonen's best time set in September, Stefano Domenicali, the Ferrari team director, said: “He would have been an excellent Formula One driver but he chose a different road.”

In 2006, David Richards, rallying's commercial chief, admitted that he would love him to defect, saying: “He'd be great for the sport.”

Rossi, though, has come to the conclusion that he is a genius on two wheels and anything else would leave a bitter taste. His love of car racing remains unchecked, although he said it will be “very difficult” for him to make the top ten in his Stobart M-Sport Ford Focus. “My father Graziano started rallying after he finished with the motorcycle,” he said.

Graziano was a flamboyant rider who won three 250cc grands prix in 1979 before suffering an horrendous crash, retiring and shunning five-star hotels to sleep in the back of a beaten-up BMW while his son races. “When I was a child, Graziano would take me in the car to make slides and the passion grew in me at that moment,” Rossi said.

He started out in go-karts and had two British idols, Nigel Mansell and Mike Hailwood. As with many elite bikers of his era, Hailwood also raced cars, getting the George Medal for pulling Clay Regazzoni from a burning car during the South African Grand Prix in 1973. Rossi is a keen historian and would dearly love to emulate Hailwood by proving that he is not a one-trick thoroughbred.

However, John Surtees, the only man to win both Formula One and 500cc motorcycle world titles, believes he has left it too late. “They start thinking of making these changes after their peak,” he said. “I probably had another ten years left in me when I switched.”

He also questioned the claim that Rossi had turned down a Formula One grand-prix seat. “I said the stopwatch would decide it and it did - he had a lot of time in the very best car but he wasn't fast enough,” he said. “If he looked like being competitive he'd have changed - simple as that.”

Matthew Wilson, the British rally driver who is tenth in the championship, helped Rossi during an 80-kilometre test. “He can drive,” Wilson said, although he added that Rossi's impressive result in Rally New Zealand in 2006 came against a weaker field than he faces this weekend.

Snow and ice are expected to make this year's Wales Rally GB a treacherous one. Rossi, who followed up his Ferrari test by topping the MotoGP times in testing in Jerez, Spain, last week, says that swapping between disciplines is not a problem. “It's different but not difficult,” he said. “My main target is to have fun. In 2002 I made a small mistake and went home. This year the stages are very good, but it's a pity there will be snow. I will try to improve my times and my feeling with the car stage by stage, but we will have to be lucky.”

Six years ago, Rossi's Rally GB ended with him running down a Welsh forest lane to round up some spectators to pull his Peugeot out of a ditch after nine miles. He went home to London and his co-driver, Carlo Cassina, back again this year, went to Parc Fermé. “That was a disaster,” Rossi said, but he believes the pressure is off this time because, while serious, he is not seeking a second career. The man who used to turn up on the podium in different national costumes has finally decided not to reinvent himself or the wheels.