Skip advert
Advertisement

Valentino Rossi tries NASCAR

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi tries his hand at NASCAR, with a WRC rally seat in his future plans

MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi has tried his hand at another form of motorsport. After tests in a Ferrari Formula 1 car and World Rally Championship appearances peppered through his career, he has now sampled NASCAR.

The day after his sixth-place finish in round two of the 2013 MotoGP season at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, the Italian rider headed to Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina. There he swapped his Yamaha YZR-M1 for Kyle Busch’s NASCAR Toyota Camry.

Advertisement - Article continues below

With a 650bhp 5.9-litre V8 engine (and, of course, four wheels) it’s somewhat different to seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi’s usual company vehicle, and as such it took him a few laps to adjust. ‘At the beginning it was a bit strange because it’s difficult to go straight. But after some laps, I had a lot of confidence and I was able to go faster and faster and faster’, said Rossi.

‘In the bank you have a lot of grip, so you are glued on the racetrack. It was great, I enjoyed it a lot. I love driving the race car, and I always have, so it was exciting to drive a NASCAR.’

Valentino’s racing experience – including those dabbles with four wheels – ensured he wasn’t a fish out of water, running at a pace that would put him in the top 15 of NASCAR Nationwide Series practice.

Rossi has previously stated that he’ll compete in rallying once his MotoGP career has wound down. ‘When I finish in motorcycles I will do some programme in rallying. Maybe not the full world championship because it's very hard, but maybe a programme of six or seven races in a season’ he said in 2012.

His best WRC finish was an 11th place in a Subaru in the 2006 Rally of New Zealand, while he achieved 12th behind the wheel of a Ford Focus in 2008 Rally GB in Wales.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Audi RS3 v Toyota GR Yaris v Mercedes-AMG A45 S – car pictures of the week
Hot hatch test
Features

Audi RS3 v Toyota GR Yaris v Mercedes-AMG A45 S – car pictures of the week

In the latest issue of evo, we test three of the most sophisticated hot hatches on sale against each other on road and track – these are our favourite…
29 Mar 2025
Used Audi RS6 Avant (C7, 2013 - 2019) review, specs and buying guide – family-friendly supercar slayer from £20k
Audi RS6 – front
In-depth reviews

Used Audi RS6 Avant (C7, 2013 - 2019) review, specs and buying guide – family-friendly supercar slayer from £20k

Audi’s C7-generation RS6 may lack ultimate involvement, but it’s still a crushingly effective and desirable super-estate
27 Mar 2025
Performance Link Mazda MX-5 R300 review – an MX-5 with Honda VTEC power
Performance Link Mazda MX-5 R300 – front
Reviews

Performance Link Mazda MX-5 R300 review – an MX-5 with Honda VTEC power

A screaming 296bhp Honda VTEC engine and a full chassis upgrade package turn the NC-generation Mazda MX-5 into something altogether more thrilling
25 Mar 2025