Valentino Rossi 17th in Rally GB shakedown

MotoGP world championValentino Rossi clocked the 17th best time during Thursday’s shakedown stage for this weekend’s Wales Rally GB.

Driving a Ford Focus WRC car, the Italian clocked a best time of 2.41.7 on the 3.90km shakedown in the Penllergaer Forest, Swansea. That left him 17th out of 21 drivers competing in WRC cars, 16 seconds off the leading pace.

The Rally GB kicks gets underway tonight with a ceremonial stage at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, with the serious competition kicking off tomorrow morning with eight stages.

Rossi’s last Rally GB appearance in 2002 was a disaster when he crashed out on the very first stage.

His last world rally appearance though in New Zealand saw him finish in a respectable 11th.

Rossi will compete in the rally running his famous number 46. Finnish driver Jari Ketomaa lent the number to him for the weekend having used it during the entire season.