Rossi closes on Rally GB deal
Valentino Rossi says he is close to completing a deal to contest this year's Wales Rally GB in a Subaru Impreza WRC
The MotoGP star attempted the event in a Peugeot in 2002, only to crash out early.
He returned to the World Rally Championship in New Zealand last season and took his Subaru to 11th place.
Rossi said he would definitely contest the Monza Rally - an Italian national event - after the end of the MotoGP season, and was determined to return to the British WRC round as well.
"We try to cover all the budget, but I'm 100 percent for the Rally of Monza with a Ford Focus at the end of November, after the Malaysia (MotoGP) test, and 95 percent for England (Rally GB) with the Subaru," he told reporters at Phillip Island.
"After the end of the championship I'll test the car. I don't know which tyre we'll use, maybe the BF Goodrich, but for sure I'll do the rally."
The Italian also distanced himself from continuing speculation linking him with a future full-time WRC switch with Yamaha MotoGP sponsors Fiat.
"I know that Fiat are making a programme for rallying," Rossi said. "They are asking to use the S2000 with turbos instead of WRC.
"In that case Fiat would come back at the top level of rallying. I know they have a programme, but not with me at this moment."
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