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Rossi -Possible Ferrari Test Driver?

T

The Doctor

Joined Jul 2005
954 Posts | 9+
Philadelphia-suburbs
I found this on Crash.net

The latest rumour to be sparked by Valentino Rossi's return to a F1 cockpit is that the six-times motorcycling world champion could become an official test driver for Ferrari.

Italian magazine Autosprint quotes 'Ferrari sources' as saying that during Rossi's latest test, conducted in private, the Italian lapped within 1.5secs of Michael Schumacher's lap record around the Fiorano test track.

Rossi is also said to have covered 375km over the two days, which meets the 300km minimum required when applying for an F1 superlicence.

Ferrari currently employs Marc Gene and Luca Badoer as their official test drivers and will field Brazilian Felipe Massa as a replacement for Rubens Barrichello, alongside Schumacher, for the 2006 racing season. Rossi has already committed to MotoGP with Yamaha next year, but is free to choose his future after that.

A testing contract was traditionally seen as the first step towards an F1 race drive, although 'professional' test drivers - with no realistic chance of graduating to a race seat - are now frequent throughout the rich end of the F1 grid.

It is thought Rossi would be unable to accept an 'official' Ferrari testing role while racing in MotoGP due to sponsorship clashes.
 
Rossi will soon test the new FIAT Punto 1600 that will debut in next year's WRC championship.

He's said many times he enjoys more rallying than F1 (Despite testing the F1 FIAT this week) and that IF he quited bikes he would turn to rallying.


I guess soon we'll see thousands of posts saying Rossi will be rallying in 2007.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Aug 12 2005, 01:15 PM)<div class='quotemain'>Rossi will soon test the new FIAT Punto 1600 that will debut in next year's WRC championship.

He's said many times he enjoys more rallying than F1 (Despite testing the F1 FIAT this week) and that IF he quited bikes he would turn to rallying.
I guess soon we'll see thousands of posts saying Rossi will be rallying in 2007. 
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<div align="right<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
By Fiat do you mean Ferrari? as Fiat own Ferrari.
 
I don't see room in the WRC for Rossi. Citroen and Peugeot are supposedly pulling out of WRC next year which leaves seats in the remaining competitive teams scarce. There will only really be Subaru, Ford and Mitsu. With the likes of Loeb, Martin and Gronholm looking for rides for next year I don't see open seats in '07 or '08.

Just my 2cents...I think F1 has more opportunity for Rossi to be competitive.
 
well it's confirmed that rossi is in with yamaha until the end of 06. so it's still too early for these kinds of rumors if yo uask me.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Aug 12 2005, 12:15 PM)<div class='quotemain'>Rossi will soon test the new FIAT Punto 1600 that will debut in next year's WRC championship.

He's said many times he enjoys more rallying than F1 (Despite testing the F1 FIAT this week) and that IF he quited bikes he would turn to rallying.
I guess soon we'll see thousands of posts saying Rossi will be rallying in 2007. 
<

<div align="right<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Joking aside,this could actually be good for Rossi-to begin at a slightly lower level in WRC.He adapts quickly so a season or two then into full blown WRC cars is possible,I mean rather rally than Fla 1 is cool
<
 
I like Jarno and Fisi and they do make valid points but you have to wonder if they are jealous. All season Jarno has been ridiculed for being blindingly fast in qualifying and then going backwards in race pace. Just as Jarno has been ridiculed Fisi hasn't had much better of a time being beaten senseless regularly by teammate and sure to be 2005 WDC Fernando Alonso. Surely they are receiving loads of negative press in Italy and here is this guy who doesn't even race cars and is rumored to come race for his home country's factory Ferrari, ouch. I can hear Jarno and Fisi now... "I'm Italian too, love me!"
 
He could be a shot of life for F1 should he go. I am hoping he will pump new life into the series and not have the series suck it out of him. That's the stance I have on the issue.
 
I've just read in a Spanish newspaper that Rossi will do 6 tests more with Ferrari during 2006.
<


So Rossi to F1 is a matter of time, in 2007 we'll see the debut of Rossi in F1???
 
That news coupled with the story reported at www.crash.net certainly points to a future for Rossi in F1. In this latest article Rossi is quoted as saying "I could be quick in F1". A very interesting choice of words for someone who only tested because Ferrari asked him to and is content racing on two for some time.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kev58 @ Aug 27 2005, 03:17 PM)<div class='quotemain'>i hope he does't leave before he does at least one season with the new 800s in 07 
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<div align="right<{POST_SNAPBACK}>
With you on that one Kev,would be a travesty for him not to show his adaptability on anything.
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Sorry dude but I'm off to Canada soon, I will study there during the Fall term in a student exchange program between colleges. So I wont be in Spain until next year.

Anyway even if I was here I doubt I would travel 350km to watch Rossi, I'm neither a Rossi nor a Ferrari fan.
<
 
What part of Canada are you going to Teo? I'll be your somewhat southern American brother here in Minnesota.
 

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