Rossi wins his first car rally driving a Ford Focus

[totalmotorcycle]

Rossi wins his first car rally driving a Ford Focus
Thursday, November 30, 2006 - By AP - Motoring South Africa - motoring.co.za


Valentino Rossi is not only quick on two wheels - he's fast on four as well. The seven-time World Motorcycle champion won the recent Monza rally, a two-day exhibition event held on the circuit of the Italian F1 Grand Prix.

The 27-year-old MotoGP star, driving a Ford Focus, won all seven stages of the 136.4km rally in 1hr11minutes23.7 - one second ahead of a field that included 1994 World Rally champion Didier Auriol, who finished 12th.

Rossi said: "Winning a rally gives the same emotion as in MotoGP.

"The car was perfect and, above all, I didn't make any mistakes, which is what counts
'Winning in rally gives the same emotion as in MotoGP'
."

Rossi is a passionate rally enthusiast, calling the sport his second love after motorcycling. The Italian competed in the New Zealand rally in a privately entered Subaru earlier in November 2006, finishing 10th - about 20 minutes behind winner Marcus Gronholm.

"The Doctor" also said he would enter the 2007 Wales Rally GB.

"Rallying could be my future after MotoGP," he said, "but Formula 1 is another possibility."

Rossi has tested with Ferrari and Mercedes, also clocking fast times.

But for now he's bent on reclaiming his MotoGP crown, and is contracted with Yamaha's MotoGP team for 2007.

"We will be in Jerez from Monday, testing tyres and two chassis for the new bike," Rossi said.

"Next year the field, starting with Nicky Hayden, is made up entirely of much younger riders." - AP