Rossi Will Race for Stobart in Rally GB

No more speculation! Valentino Rossi confirmed earlier today that he will be joining the M-Sport Ford Rally Team between the 4th and the 7th of December for the final round of the World Rally Championship. This would be his second participation in Rally Great Britain, as he previously competed for Subaru in 2006.

The reigning MotoGP champion will get used to his new Ford Focus WRC car as early as next week, as he is set to compete in the Monza Rally Show in his home country. He has already agreed to use his car’s livery to accommodate the ‘Children in Need’ appeal mascot as a sign of him supporting the BBC’s annual charity fundraising action.

“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. 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,” admitted Rossi. The 5-time MotoGP champion will be co-driven by 48-year old Carlo Cassina.

“It’s a tremendous honour to have Valentino Rossi promoting BBC Children in Need. 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,” revealed Children in Need’s representative Marc Phillips.

“We’re delighted to welcome Valentino Rossi to this year’s Wales Rally GB. 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,” admitted Andrew Coe, chief executive of event organiser International Motor Sports Ltd.