UJEX46

After taking his fifth MotoGP world crown this year, Valentino Rossi made a return to Maranello to drive Ferrari's latest world beater having seen them wrap up their sixteenth Formula One Constructors' title in Brazil on November 2. With Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo present, Rossi's pace on the Mugello circuit was particularly noticeable.

The famous 46 on the F2008
The famous 46 on the F2008

The famous number 46 on the car's nose cone marked a double celebration as regular drivers Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen witnessed the Italian, who first drove a Ferrari F1 car back in 2003, lap the circuit just 1.5 seconds off Kimi's own fastest time in the same car earlier this year. The performance went down extremely well with team principal Stefano Domenicali, stating how noticeable Rossi's physical preparation for this test was despite admitting the celebration was "Two days of pure fun at home" in front of the partisan Tifosi. Domenicali, who took over from Jean Todt this year, also admitted that "Valentino would have been an excellent F1 driver, but he chose a different road."

Rossi's fastest lap of the day was 1.22.500 which compares to Räikkönen's own time in the F2008 of 1.21.070. "I'm really happy that I had this possibility", commented a delighted Rossi following his time on the circuit.

To date, the only champion on two wheels and four was another Ferrari star as Britain's John Surtees who, already a four-time 500cc motorcycle world champion, took his Formula One title for the prancing horse in 1964.

intinya rossi berhasil mencetak waktu tercepat hanya terpaut 1,5 detik dibawah Kimi Raikonen