Valentino Rossi improves to 16th in Rally GB

MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has gained eight places on the second day of the Wales Rally GB, the Italian ending 16th overall in the Stobart-backed Ford Focus.

Rossi was 24th after an opening day disrupted by treacherous weather conditions, but immediately began clawing his way up the field in slightly improved but chilly conditions today.

Rossi found the longer flowing stages much more suited to his driving style today and was able to drive with a lot more confidence and control.

His second day wasn’t without drama though as he followed up yesterday’s spin with another incident on stage 14 at Crychan. The 14.96km stage run with patchy ice saw Rossi make a mistake and the Fiat Yamaha rider said: “It is so slippy and there is a lot of ice.

“We went too fast into a corner and overshot it, which smashed the front of the car and cracked the windscreen but it is OK. There was some frost but less ice than yesterday. I’m enjoying it much more today and we have a good rhythm with the car.”

Rossi is hoping to equal or better his Rally New Zealand result of 11th that he managed back in 2006 during the final day tomorrow.