Multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi will be joining the Vallelunga 6 Hour race in Italy this weekend as the Yamaha rider gets behind the wheel of a GT3-class Ferrari 430, complete with his legendary number 46.

Italian Rossi, who picked up his seventh top flight MotoGP crown in Malaysia this year, is preparing for the race at the more local circuit – located around 50 minutes outside of capital city Rome by car – after being handed the opportunity by Kessel Motorsport.

Rossi will double his number of wheels this weekend

As well as Valentino, taking turns in the cockpit will be best friend Alessio ‘Uccio’ Salucci and expert driver Andrea Ceccato to help make up any lost time.

After testing the car for 20 laps on Wednesday this week, Rossi’s hopes have been boosted by Luca di Montezemolo. “He’s very motivated,” the Ferrari President told Gazetta dello Sport. “I hope he wins because I want a Ferrari to win – and particularly one driven by him.”

Joining ‘The Doctor’ on-track will be England’s Adrian Newey, as the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 designer drives a BMW M3 in the Super Cup class.